On Oct 21, Malaysian drivers across the country plunged into chaos and confusion after the TuJu, the locally-made navigation app that was touted to Waze’s replacement, was hit with technical issues which left many fuming over its poorly-designed interface and confusing instructions.
Although TuJu has since directed users to utilise Google Maps when they hit the navigation button (a far cry from its supposed role of a reliable navigation app), the fiasco has led to talented developers coming up with their own apps.
One of them is Leslie Chan, an independent developer of over 20 years’ worth of experience who singlehandedly built LAPAN Nav within a span of just 48 hours.
What to know about LAPAN Nav
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Leslie said LAPAN Nav is quite similar to Waze, with the only differences being the features that cannot be found on most navigation apps.
“It speaks Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese and Tamil, with voice directions written in a manner that reflects how Malaysians actually talk.
“LAPAN Nav also shows toll fares in Ringgit for every route, and warns drivers about speed cameras, police, accidents and floods reported by other drivers.
“On top of that, every road report, place fix and problem report goes back into the app itself. Most of all, LAPAN Nav owns all of its data, uses free and open sources, and never sells anyone’s data,” he explained.
Completed within 2 days
When asked how long it took for LAPAN Nav to go live, Leslie said all it took was a mere two days.
“I started building LAPAN Nav on Oct 21, the day civil servants in the country were banned from using Waze. Two days later, I launched the most basic version of LAPAN Nav along with its website, so Malaysians could start using it and telling me what they needed.
“Since then I’ve built on it every day, with several updates made daily based on feedback from drivers. Much of what LAPAN Nav does today was added after launching, with voice search and support for car head units added later on.”
Leslie stated that no investment or extra money was spent on developing LAPAN Nav as he had used AI development tools he often used in his work to develop the app.
Speed bumps
Of course, obstacles are bound to occur when developing a navigation app from scratch; not in the form of police roadblocks, but getting the information necessary in rectifying existing errors.
“Many places, house numbers and smaller roads were missing or wrong in the open maps, so LAPAN learns from its drivers who add missing places, fix erroneous information, and report problems.
“Another challenge was getting LAPAN Nav to sound Malaysian across four languages as I didn’t want it to sound like a word-for-word translation. On top of that, developing an app solo with zero budget was tough, especially when many are using the app all at the same time.”
Leslie also cited difficulties in making LAPAN Nav work across phones of various operating systems (OS) and car head units as they had their own configurations which required him to figure out a viable solution for each platform.
Thoughts on TuJu
As a seasoned app developer, Leslie had some things to say regarding the chaotic rollout of TuJu—one which has garnered public mockery and ire.
For starters, he said those behind TuJu’s development should lend an ear to drivers by listening to their feedback and acting quickly on it.
A navigation app is never finished; it only gets good by improving with its users week after week. Also, keep it simple: a driver should get where they need to go with as few taps as possible.”
When asked what he though of Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad stating that TuJu was never meant to replace Waze, Leslie responded:
“Helping stranded motorists is genuinely important, and I respect that goal. Breaking down on a highway is stressful and can be dangerous. But to reach a stranded driver quickly, you need accurate location, good maps and up-to-date road information.
“In LAPAN, for example, an emergency button calls 999 or sends family your live location, and drivers warn each other about accidents and hazards ahead. A good navigation app can help people get home safely, and get help faster when something goes wrong.”
If you wish to give LAPAN Nav a try, you can download it for free on Google Play or the Apple Store.
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