In the vast, intricate world of Path of Exile, crafting an effective character build—and knowing when to buy PoE currency to fund it—is not just an option, it’s essential. This complex action RPG demands a deep understanding of skill trees, gear, and synergies, making it a challenging but rewarding experience.
For many players, especially newcomers, navigating the sheer volume of build possibilities can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, tight-knit communities often step up to provide resources, and that’s where innovative tools like the PoE Build Browser come into play. This mobile application streamlines access to vital build information directly from the game’s official forums. We sat down with its creator to learn more about this helpful tool and the mind behind it.
(1) Tell us about yourself (name/nickname, hometown, age, occupation, favorite games that you play and what platform(s) you play)?
Hello! My name is Alvaro Carvajal, though online I often go by Raggaer. I’m a 23-year-old software developer currently based in Spain, nearing the completion of my Computer Science degree. My professional work largely revolves around web development for various companies. Gaming is a big part of my life, exclusively on PC. I’m deeply immersed in Path of Exile and Guild Wars 2, which consume most of my gaming hours. For quicker sessions, I enjoy engaging roguelikes like Enter the Gungeon, perfect for unwinding.
(2) Do you work independently or in a team? If in a team, how big is it?
For most of my personal projects, including the PoE Build Browser, I operate independently. This allows for a great deal of creative freedom and direct control over the development process. However, when it comes to the visual aspects and overall aesthetic, I often collaborate with a close friend. He lends his expertise in design, helping with critical elements such as the color schemes, user interface layouts, and crafting the application’s icon. This partnership ensures the app looks polished and user-friendly, combining my technical skills with his design sensibility.
(3) What inspired you to create an app specifically for this game? When did it cross your mind to create your app?
The inspiration for this app sprang directly from Path of Exile’s core mechanics. Builds are paramount in the game, and finding a suitable one can be a daunting task for new players. While the official forums offer a wealth of information, their search capabilities aren’t always optimal for quickly sifting through build guides. I envisioned a more efficient way to browse builds using intuitive tags. Although various websites already offered similar tag-based searching, none had a dedicated mobile application. This identified gap in the market presented a perfect opportunity to create a convenient, phone-friendly solution for players.
(4) What programming language or tool did you use to create this app? Do you have any favorite PLs or tools in particular?
The PoE Build Browser application was primarily developed using Flutter, Google’s UI toolkit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. On the backend, my custom servers are responsible for gathering information from the PoE forums and then structuring it into a JSON format. The Flutter app then fetches this structured data and presents it to the user. For server-side programming and many of my personal coding projects, I greatly favor Go (Golang). It’s a language I find incredibly simple, yet remarkably productive for developing robust and efficient services.
(5) When it comes to designing the user experience/UX of the app, what motivated you or what influences did you have?
My primary motivation for the app’s design was to provide a familiar and comfortable environment for Path of Exile players. The main influence stemmed directly from the official Path of Exile forums themselves. I meticulously studied their layout and visual style, aiming to replicate a similar color scheme and overall aesthetic within the app. This approach ensures that users, accustomed to the game’s existing online resources, find the app’s interface intuitive and consistent. The goal was to make the app feel like a natural extension of the PoE community experience.
(6) From the developer’s and gamer’s perspective, how do you think the app affects the overall experience of the game?
From both a developer’s and a gamer’s viewpoint, I believe the app significantly enhances the Path of Exile experience. For new players, it simplifies the often-complex task of finding a viable build, making the game more accessible and less intimidating. Furthermore, it offers immense convenience for players who might have a single monitor setup. Instead of alt-tabbing or relying on a secondary screen, they can follow a detailed build guide directly on their phone while actively playing. This integration boosts efficiency and immersion, allowing players to focus more on gameplay and less on managing information.
(7) Is there any margin of error when it comes to the app’s performance and provided information?
Yes, unfortunately, there are a few minor areas where the app isn’t perfectly seamless yet. The primary issue lies in how links are handled within build posts. Currently, all external links, such as embedded YouTube videos, tend to render directly inside the application’s web view. My preference is for these links to open in the phone’s native applications, like the YouTube app for videos, providing a more integrated user experience. However, regarding overall performance, I’m very pleased; Flutter has proven to be an excellent framework, ensuring the app runs smoothly and responsively.
(8) What were your biggest challenges for this project? How did you overcome them?
The most significant hurdle during this project was effectively rendering the intricate HTML content of forum build posts. The Flutter framework, while powerful, doesn’t natively support full HTML rendering. To overcome this, I had to implement a WebView component to display the post information. The challenge then shifted to ensuring this embedded web content visually matched the app’s native design, particularly its color scheme. While wrapping content in a WebView wasn’t my ideal architectural approach, it was the most viable solution that allowed for accurate presentation of the detailed build guides within the application.
(9) Are you expecting the game’s expansions to change your app’s dynamics and performance? Is it something that you’ve already prepared to tackle?
Absolutely. Path of Exile is a living game, and its frequent expansions constantly introduce new skills, items, and mechanics, which naturally impact existing builds. I’ve designed the app with this in mind. My server continuously tracks “not indexed builds”—those that the system couldn’t categorize automatically—and sends daily reports to me. Almost every week, I manually review these to identify and incorporate new build tags into my tracking services. This proactive maintenance ensures that the app remains current, adapting its dynamics and performance to reflect the latest game changes and effectively index new content.
(10) Are there any exciting new developments for your app that you would care to share?
There are definitely some exciting updates on the horizon! We’re making solid progress on improving the **link handling** functionality, aiming for a much more seamless experience where external links open in native apps. Additionally, I’ve embarked on a new, related project: a dedicated application for viewing the main Path of Exile forums, built with a similar development philosophy and design. You can find it under “PoE Forums Browser” on the Play Store. Looking ahead, I also have plans to **open-source** both applications, inviting community contributions and transparency in their development.
(11) Could you share a few quick tips to new players of the game?
For anyone just starting their journey in Path of Exile, my biggest piece of advice is to take your time and explore. Don’t feel pressured to immediately jump into the most powerful “meta builds” you see online. While those are effective, constantly chasing them can quickly make the game feel stale. Many players mistakenly believe only top-tier builds are viable for the endgame. This isn’t true! Experiment with what interests you, learn the mechanics, and discover unique synergies. The joy of Path of Exile often comes from crafting a build that resonates with your playstyle.
(12) Any advice you’d like to share to aspiring game app or web developers?
My advice to any aspiring game, app, or web developer is straightforward: practice is everything. You can’t truly learn to build by just reading about it; you have to actively create. Start making applications or websites, even if the concept has been explored before. Don’t let the fear of duplication stop you. Every project, no matter how small or seemingly unoriginal, provides invaluable hands-on experience and teaches you something new. The journey of creation, from initial concept to deployment, is where genuine learning happens. So, simply put, just start doing things.
Just Do It
As Alvaro so eloquently puts it, practical application is key. You can’t truly master a craft by observing from the sidelines; you must immerse yourself in the process. The PoE Build Browser stands as a testament to this philosophy, born from a developer’s initiative to solve a common player pain point through dedicated effort. This brilliant app now allows you to access crucial Path of Exile build information right from your mobile device, making your in-game progression smoother and more informed. So, whether you’re an aspiring developer or an enthusiastic Exile, remember to keep practicing, keep creating, and keep playing Path of Exile – with all the best builds now conveniently at your fingertips!
Leave a Reply