Restaurant App: Review Update Bug & Multiple Review Issue

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Restaurant App Review Bugs: Discovery Screen Update & Multiple Reviews

Hey guys! Let's dive into a couple of pesky bugs found in the customer app for our restaurant ordering platform built with the MERN stack. We're talking about review updates on the discovery screen and the issue of customers being able to review the same order multiple times. This article will break down the bugs, how to reproduce them, the expected behavior, and the technical details.

Bug 1: Delayed Review Updates on Discovery Screen

The main issue is that when a customer leaves a review for a restaurant, the updated review isn't immediately reflected on the restaurant's listing in the discovery screen. This can be confusing for other users who are browsing restaurants, as they might not see the most current feedback. Imagine a customer just had a fantastic meal and left a glowing review, but that positive feedback isn't showing up for potential customers right away! We need to fix this ASAP to ensure accurate information is displayed.

This delayed update creates a disconnect between the customer's experience and what's presented on the app. A user might think their review wasn't submitted correctly, or that the app isn't functioning as expected. This can lead to a frustrating user experience and potentially deter others from trying out a restaurant with newly positive reviews. Furthermore, it's crucial for restaurants to see real-time feedback so they can quickly address any concerns or capitalize on positive sentiments. The current delay hinders this process and can negatively impact both customer satisfaction and restaurant operations.

To make sure we're on the same page, consider this scenario: a customer orders from a restaurant, loves the food, and leaves a 5-star review with a glowing comment. However, another user browsing the discovery screen still sees the old rating, which might be lower, or doesn't reflect the recent positive feedback. This discrepancy can mislead potential customers and prevent them from discovering a great dining experience. Therefore, it's essential that the app accurately and promptly displays the most recent reviews to maintain transparency and build trust with users. The real-time update of reviews is not just a feature; it's a crucial component of the platform's credibility and user experience.

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Head to the Customer Application and tap the Profile menu button.
  2. Navigate to Order History under My Orders and select Past orders.
  3. Give a review and rating to any of your previous orders.
  4. Go back to the discovery page and observe the restaurant you just reviewed. You'll notice the reviews aren't updated until you tap into the restaurant's details.
  5. Specifically, you'll see the reviews changing only when you open the restaurant's detailed view.

Expected Behavior:

When a customer submits a review for a restaurant, it should be displayed immediately on the restaurant's discovery page, without needing to navigate to the restaurant's detail page. This ensures that the displayed information is always up-to-date and reflects the most recent customer feedback.

Bug 2: Multiple Reviews for the Same Order

Okay, this one is pretty straightforward. Customers should only be able to review an order once. Currently, the app allows users to submit multiple reviews for the same order, which can skew ratings and provide inaccurate feedback. Imagine someone accidentally submitting the same review multiple times, or worse, intentionally trying to manipulate a restaurant's rating! We need to lock this down to ensure fair and accurate reviews.

Allowing multiple reviews for the same order opens the door to potential manipulation and inaccurate representation of customer experiences. This not only undermines the integrity of the review system but also creates confusion for other users relying on these reviews to make informed decisions. If a user can repeatedly review the same order, the overall rating might be skewed by a single person's repeated feedback, whether positive or negative. This can lead to a biased perception of the restaurant's quality and service, potentially affecting its reputation and customer base. It's crucial to implement a robust mechanism that restricts users to reviewing each order only once, ensuring that the reviews reflect a diverse range of genuine experiences. This limitation not only enhances the reliability of the reviews but also promotes a fairer and more balanced assessment of each restaurant on the platform. The focus should be on gathering authentic feedback from various customers for each order, providing a clear and trustworthy insight into the dining experience.

Furthermore, the ability to leave multiple reviews for the same order can create an administrative nightmare for restaurant owners and platform administrators. It becomes challenging to sift through the repeated reviews and identify genuine feedback from one-time submissions. This not only wastes valuable time and resources but also complicates the process of addressing legitimate concerns or praise from customers. The restriction to a single review per order streamlines the feedback management process, allowing for a more efficient and accurate analysis of customer sentiments. By implementing this limitation, the platform can ensure a more transparent and credible review system, fostering trust and reliability among users and restaurant owners alike. The goal is to provide a fair representation of each dining experience based on the collective voice of different customers, rather than being potentially skewed by repetitive submissions from the same individual.

Expected Behavior:

A customer should only be allowed to review an order once. After submitting a review, the option to review the same order again should be disabled or removed.

Technical Details

A screen recording (WhatsApp.Video.2025-01-15.at.11.49.12.AM.1.mp4) further illustrates the delayed review update issue. This visual evidence provides a clear understanding of the bug in action and helps in identifying the root cause.

Smartphone Details:

  • Device: Infinix Hot 50 (Example)
  • OS: Windows (Example - should likely be Android)
  • Browser: Application (Likely the customer app itself, not a browser)
  • Version: 14 (Example)

These details help narrow down the potential causes of the bugs, as they might be device-specific or OS-related. It's essential to test the fixes on a variety of devices and operating systems to ensure a consistent experience for all users.

Next Steps

So, what's next? Our development team will be diving into these bugs to identify the root causes and implement fixes. This will likely involve:

  1. Investigating the data flow: Tracing how reviews are submitted, stored, and displayed on the discovery screen. This will help pinpoint where the delay is occurring.
  2. Implementing real-time updates: Exploring technologies like WebSockets or server-sent events to push review updates to the client in real-time.
  3. Adding review limitations: Implementing server-side validation to ensure only one review is allowed per order.
  4. Thorough testing: Rigorously testing the fixes on different devices and scenarios to ensure they work as expected.

We're committed to providing a smooth and reliable experience for our users. Thanks for bringing these issues to our attention! We'll keep you updated on our progress. In the meantime, if you spot any other bugs, please don't hesitate to let us know. Happy ordering! We need to fix these issues to ensure the customer experience is the best it can be, leading to more satisfied users and thriving restaurants. The integrity of our review system is paramount, and we're dedicated to maintaining it.