The Perfect Storm
The launch of Curawork came at a critical time in the healthcare sector, addressing key challenges and market gaps.
Nursing Staff Shortage
Germany faces a well-documented shortage of nursing staff and high burnout rates.
Lack of Dedicated Networks
Caregivers had to rely on generic social media or offline connections.
First Mover Advantage
Curawork is the first career-oriented social network exclusively for caregivers
Community Building
A platform where caregivers can expand networks, share knowledge, and engage meaningfully
Modernize Legacy Tech Stack Through Strategic React Integration
Using Moments as a test case, we aimed to introduce React incrementally while validating a new architectural approach for future development.
Moments
A self-contained React app designed to handle real-time interactions, integrate cleanly with legacy infrastructure, and transform Curawork into a true social hub for caregivers.
An engaging community feature that differentiates Curawork as more than just a job platform by enabling caregivers to:
Legacy Modernization
Moments proved React could integrate seamlessly within a complex legacy environment, setting new architectural standards for future Curawork development without disrupting the platform.
Strategic Differentiation
By encouraging daily interactions and personal sharing, Moments strengthens user loyalty and positions Curawork as the social hub for the growing caregiver community.
Tech Stack
Incremental React integration with legacy PHP/Laravel backend, proving modern architecture viability without disrupting platform stability.
Navigating Legacy Integration Challenges
Delivering the Moments feature meant balancing modern functionality with legacy constraints while maintaining platform stability.
Curawork's web platform was built with PHP Blade templates and traditional JavaScript.
The challenge was to introduce a modern React-based feature into this legacy tech stack without disrupting existing functionality.
Any integration had to respect the existing architecture while delivering a modern user experience.
We developed the Moments feature as an isolated React application embedded within Curawork's existing Blade template.
This approach created a self-contained "micro-frontend" for the feed, allowing the new feature to run independently within the legacy site.
The React component was designed to coexist harmoniously with existing PHP/JavaScript without causing conflicts.
The new Moments feed needed to communicate seamlessly with Curawork's existing backend and frontend.
From authentication to data updates (posts, votes, comments), the React component had to work in harmony with the old system.
Ensuring secure data flow between modern React frontend and legacy PHP backend was critical.
The team established clear API endpoints and in-app event hooks to connect the React component with Curawork's PHP backend and existing JavaScript.
This bridge ensured seamless data flow – when a user posted a new moment or cast a vote, the action was securely handled by the backend.
Real-time updates were implemented without full page reloads, maintaining smooth user experience.
The Moments feature was based on detailed designs provided by the client, requiring precise UI execution.
Matching the design 1:1 within a new tech stack and old styling constraints demanded close attention to detail.
Ensuring the new React components would render consistently across different devices and browsers was crucial.
Throughout development, we worked closely with Curawork's product team to align on the feature's behavior and look-and-feel.
The engineering team provided feedback on the provided design, suggesting UI adjustments where needed to fit technical constraints.
Extensive testing ensured the layout would work on older devices and within the existing CSS framework.
Embedding a dynamic React feed into a legacy environment introduced complexity around loading, responsiveness, and client-side rendering.
Maintaining fast performance was essential to avoid degrading the user experience.
The React bundle needed to load efficiently without impacting the overall app performance.
We implemented performance optimizations like code-splitting and lazy loading for the Moments feed.
Only the necessary React bundle loads when a user accesses the feature, minimizing impact on overall app load time.
Fine-tuned state management and rendering ensured upvotes/downvotes would update instantly with optimistic updates.
The Moments Feature Delivered Immediate Product Impact
Successfully engaging users while validating a long-term technical strategy, proving React could be introduced incrementally without disrupting platform stability.
Seamless Launch
The Moments feature was delivered on schedule and integrated into the Curawork app with zero downtime. Despite being built with a new technology, it rolled out to users smoothly – most didn't even realize a major behind-the-scenes tech shift had occurred.
Rapid User Adoption & Enhanced Engagement
Curawork's community enthusiastically embraced the Moments feature. Within days of launch, caregivers began sharing dozens of candid stories. The introduction of Moments drove a notable increase in overall in-app activity.
Technical Breakthrough
Successfully implementing a React application within Curawork's legacy environment was a significant technical win. This project established a reusable framework for future React development, laying the groundwork for a long-term transition across the platform.
Client & User Satisfaction
Curawork's stakeholders were very satisfied with the outcome – the feature met their engagement goals with minimal disruption. For end-users, Moments added tangible value and reinforced Curawork's position as the go-to digital hub for Germany's care professionals.
Danubio was highly professional and responsive throughout the project. The code quality was excellent, and the new feature not only met our expectations visually, but also delivered strong user engagement. Their work laid the foundation for future technical improvements, and we’re excited to continue working with them. We fully recommend Danubio as a development partner.
