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CoffieldWeb

Scribe

Cross-platform desktop app for wildlife aerial survey transcription

Role
Full Stack Engineer
Timeframe
Aug 2023 — Present
Status
Active
Team Size
4
Domain
Wildlife / ecological aerial survey data transcription

CoffieldWeb

Scribe

Overview

Scribe is a cross-platform desktop app used by wildlife survey teams to transcribe aerial observation data — entirely offline, with no cloud backend required. I contributed to a ground-up 4.x rewrite, building the customizable session UI, the GPS-to-audio synchronization, and the Electron layer connecting the interface to local files.

Field teams define configurable survey types (species hotkeys, GeoJSON schemas, data rules), arrange their workspace with a drag-and-resize layout builder, and run multi-day sessions that sync GPS flight tracks, WAV audio, and spatial data. Native interpolator binaries, Howler.js audio, and Google Maps markers come together in a single, tightly synchronized session model shipped for macOS and Windows.

My Role

Full Stack Engineer

  • Built the drag-and-resize layout builder for customizable transcription session UIs
  • Implemented GPS-to-audio synchronization linking flight tracks with WAV playback
  • Designed and implemented the Electron IPC layer between renderer and main-process file operations

Key Features

  • Survey type builder with species hotkeys, groupings, GeoJSON types, data fields, and parent/child inheritance
  • Drag-and-resize layout builder for transcription session UIs
  • Multi-day survey session workflow with continue/resume and auto-save
  • GPS flight track validation and native interpolation
  • WAV audio playback synchronized with GPS observations on an interactive map
  • GeoJSON validation and map overlay visualization
  • Import/export of survey types (.surv) with legacy Scribe compatibility
  • Built-in validators for flight tracks, survey templates, and GeoJSON

Challenges & Solutions

Problem

Scribe 4.x required a full rewrite while preserving compatibility with legacy .surv survey type imports

Solution

Modular survey type builder with import/export pipelines and versioned session folder structure

Problem

Transcription requires tight synchronization between interpolated GPS flight tracks, WAV audio timestamps, and map-based observation entry

Solution

Integrated native GpsDataInterpolator binaries with Howler.js audio playback and Google Maps marker state in a unified session model

Problem

Complex multi-day survey sessions with auto-save needed reliable cross-process communication between React UI and local filesystem

Solution

Structured Electron IPC event layer with debounced persistence and standardized session folder layouts (WAV, GPS, GeoJSON)

Architecture & Tech

Languages

TypeScriptJavaScript

Frameworks

ElectronReactRedux ToolkitTailwind CSSReact Router

Tools

Webpackelectron-builderJestPlaywrightESLintGitHub Actions

Infrastructure

Deployment
Desktop distribution (macOS DMG, Windows NSIS)
CI/CD
GitHub Actions
Other
macOS notarization, electron-updater

Integrations

Google Maps API

Map visualization, GeoJSON layers, and observation markers during transcription

Local filesystem (Electron IPC)

Survey type storage, session data, WAV/GPS/GeoJSON file management

GpsDataInterpolator

Native binary for interpolating GPS flight track data (macOS and Windows)

Impact & Highlights

Delivered Scribe 4.x as an actively maintained desktop product replacing a legacy codebase, enabling configurable survey workflows for wildlife aerial transcription teams on macOS and Windows.

4.0.13

Version shipped

macOS, Windows

Supported platforms

WBPHS, BAEA, GOEA

Survey programs supported

8 (species/hotkeys, headers, observations, map, audio player, and more)

Layout components configurable

  • Built the layout builder enabling survey teams to customize transcription UIs with drag-and-resize panels (map, audio player, observation list, species hotkeys)
  • Implemented GPS-to-audio sync pipeline integrating native interpolator binaries with Redux-managed session state and map markers
  • Designed Electron IPC handlers connecting React renderer workflows to main-process filesystem, GPS, and session persistence
  • Contributed to a ground-up Scribe 4.x rewrite shipping v4.0.13 with support for WBPHS, BAEA, and GOEA survey programs

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