v0.3.0: local free check-in with actionable countdown notification (Phase C)

For a zone labeled free_2h/3h/4h, "Check in (free · Xh)" starts a local, API-free
countdown to the free limit — no ParkSmarter call. The bbp-notify module gains a
showCheckin() that posts the ticking chronometer with "End" / "Pay" buttons, a
BbpActionReceiver (declared in the module's new AndroidManifest.xml) that records
the tap in SharedPreferences and, for Pay, relaunches the app; consumePendingAction()
is drained on foreground by useCheckinSync() — End clears the check-in, Pay hands
off to StartSession for the stored zone. A pre-expiry alert reuses the existing
reminder lead-minutes. Starting a paid session supersedes an active check-in.

Also: MeterDetail shows the free/pay-immediate label and (admins) labeling chips.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

app/app.json

@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
     "name": "BigBrainParking",
     "slug": "bigbrainparking",
     "scheme": "bigbrainparking",
-    "version": "0.2.6",
+    "version": "0.3.0",
     "orientation": "portrait",
     "userInterfaceStyle": "automatic",
     "newArchEnabled": true,
     "icon": "./assets/icon.png",
     "android": {
       "package": "top.mowden.bigbrainparking",
-      "versionCode": 16,
+      "versionCode": 17,
       "edgeToEdgeEnabled": true,
       "adaptiveIcon": {
         "foregroundImage": "./assets/adaptive-icon.png",

app/modules/bbp-notify/android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
+  <application>
+    <!-- Fully-qualified name: relative ".Name" would resolve against the app
+         package, not this module's namespace, once manifests are merged. -->
+    <receiver
+      android:name="expo.modules.bbpnotify.BbpActionReceiver"
+      android:exported="false" />
+  </application>
+</manifest>

app/modules/bbp-notify/android/src/main/java/expo/modules/bbpnotify/BbpActionReceiver.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package expo.modules.bbpnotify
+
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import androidx.core.app.NotificationManagerCompat
+
+/**
+ * Handles the check-in notification's "End" / "Pay" buttons, even when the app
+ * process is dead. It records the choice in SharedPreferences (read by JS via
+ * `consumePendingAction` on next foreground) and, for "Pay", relaunches the app
+ * so the check-in can hand off to the paid-session flow.
+ */
+class BbpActionReceiver : BroadcastReceiver() {
+  override fun onReceive(context: Context, intent: Intent) {
+    val prefs = context.getSharedPreferences(BbpNotifyModule.PREFS_NAME, Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
+    when (intent.action) {
+      BbpNotifyModule.ACTION_END -> {
+        prefs.edit().putString(BbpNotifyModule.PREF_PENDING, "end").apply()
+        NotificationManagerCompat.from(context).cancel(BbpNotifyModule.NOTIF_ID)
+      }
+      BbpNotifyModule.ACTION_PAY -> {
+        prefs.edit().putString(BbpNotifyModule.PREF_PENDING, "pay").apply()
+        context.packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage(context.packageName)?.let { launch ->
+          launch.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
+          context.startActivity(launch)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}

app/modules/bbp-notify/android/src/main/java/expo/modules/bbpnotify/BbpNotifyModule.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import android.app.NotificationChannel
 import android.app.NotificationManager
 import android.app.PendingIntent
 import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
 import android.os.Build
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationManagerCompat
@@ -11,24 +12,61 @@ import expo.modules.kotlin.modules.Module
 import expo.modules.kotlin.modules.ModuleDefinition
 
 /**
- * A tiny, self-contained module that posts an ongoing notification whose "time"
+ * Posts an ongoing notification whose "time" is a native Android chronometer
- * is a native Android chronometer counting DOWN to the session's end. The system
+ * counting DOWN to an end time — the system ticks it every second with no app
- * ticks it every second with no app CPU/battery — works while the app is closed.
+ * CPU/battery, so it works while the app is closed.
  *
- * Uses only platform APIs (NotificationCompat) — no third-party dependencies.
+ * Two flavours: a plain paid-session countdown (`showCountdown`) and a free
+ * check-in countdown (`showCheckin`) that adds "End" / "Pay" action buttons.
+ * The buttons fire a BroadcastReceiver ([BbpActionReceiver]) that records the
+ * choice in SharedPreferences; JS reads it via `consumePendingAction` on the
+ * next foreground. Uses only platform APIs — no third-party dependencies.
  */
 class BbpNotifyModule : Module() {
   override fun definition() = ModuleDefinition {
     Name("BbpNotify")
 
-    // Returns a short diagnostic string so the JS layer can log exactly what
+    // Returns a short diagnostic string so JS can log exactly what happened
-    // happened (posted / notifications-disabled / exception). "Nothing appears"
+    // (posted / notifications-disabled / exception) — notify() fails silently.
-    // bugs are otherwise invisible because notify() fails silently.
     AsyncFunction("showCountdown") { title: String, body: String, endTimeMillis: Double ->
-      val ctx = appContext.reactContext
+      val ctx = appContext.reactContext ?: return@AsyncFunction "no-context"
-        ?: return@AsyncFunction "no-context"
+      postCountdown(ctx, title, body, endTimeMillis, null, null)
-      ensureChannel(ctx)
+    }
 
+    // Same ticking countdown, plus "End" and "Pay" action buttons.
+    AsyncFunction("showCheckin") {
+      title: String, body: String, endTimeMillis: Double, endLabel: String, payLabel: String ->
+      val ctx = appContext.reactContext ?: return@AsyncFunction "no-context"
+      postCountdown(ctx, title, body, endTimeMillis, endLabel, payLabel)
+    }
+
+    AsyncFunction("clear") {
+      val ctx = appContext.reactContext
+      if (ctx != null) {
+        NotificationManagerCompat.from(ctx).cancel(NOTIF_ID)
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Read + clear the action a notification button set while the app was away.
+    // Returns "end", "pay", or "".
+    AsyncFunction("consumePendingAction") {
+      val ctx = appContext.reactContext ?: return@AsyncFunction ""
+      val prefs = ctx.getSharedPreferences(PREFS_NAME, Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
+      val action = prefs.getString(PREF_PENDING, "") ?: ""
+      if (action.isNotEmpty()) prefs.edit().remove(PREF_PENDING).apply()
+      action
+    }
+  }
+
+  private fun postCountdown(
+    ctx: Context,
+    title: String,
+    body: String,
+    endTimeMillis: Double,
+    endLabel: String?,
+    payLabel: String?,
+  ): String {
+    ensureChannel(ctx)
     val mgr = NotificationManagerCompat.from(ctx)
     val enabled = mgr.areNotificationsEnabled()
 
@@ -51,42 +89,38 @@ class BbpNotifyModule : Module() {
     ctx.packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage(ctx.packageName)?.let { launch ->
       builder.setContentIntent(
         PendingIntent.getActivity(
-            ctx,
+          ctx, 0, launch,
-            0,
-            launch,
           PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT or PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE,
         ),
       )
     }
 
-      return@AsyncFunction try {
+    if (endLabel != null) builder.addAction(0, endLabel, actionIntent(ctx, ACTION_END))
+    if (payLabel != null) builder.addAction(0, payLabel, actionIntent(ctx, ACTION_PAY))
+
+    return try {
       mgr.notify(NOTIF_ID, builder.build())
       "posted enabled=$enabled sdk=${Build.VERSION.SDK_INT}"
     } catch (e: SecurityException) {
-        // POST_NOTIFICATIONS not granted.
       "security-exception enabled=$enabled msg=${e.message}"
     } catch (e: Exception) {
       "exception enabled=$enabled ${e.javaClass.simpleName}=${e.message}"
     }
   }
 
-    AsyncFunction("clear") {
+  private fun actionIntent(ctx: Context, action: String): PendingIntent {
-      val ctx = appContext.reactContext
+    val intent = Intent(ctx, BbpActionReceiver::class.java).setAction(action)
-      if (ctx != null) {
+    return PendingIntent.getBroadcast(
-        NotificationManagerCompat.from(ctx).cancel(NOTIF_ID)
+      ctx, action.hashCode(), intent,
-      }
+      PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT or PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE,
-    }
+    )
   }
 
   private fun ensureChannel(ctx: Context) {
     if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
       val mgr = ctx.getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java)
       if (mgr.getNotificationChannel(CHANNEL_ID) == null) {
-        val channel = NotificationChannel(
+        val channel = NotificationChannel(CHANNEL_ID, "Active parking", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW)
-          CHANNEL_ID,
-          "Active parking",
-          NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW,
-        )
         channel.setShowBadge(false)
         mgr.createNotificationChannel(channel)
       }
@@ -95,6 +129,10 @@ class BbpNotifyModule : Module() {
 
   companion object {
     private const val CHANNEL_ID = "session-status"
-    private const val NOTIF_ID = 42421
+    const val NOTIF_ID = 42421
+    const val PREFS_NAME = "bbp_notify"
+    const val PREF_PENDING = "pending_action"
+    const val ACTION_END = "expo.modules.bbpnotify.END"
+    const val ACTION_PAY = "expo.modules.bbpnotify.PAY"
   }
 }

app/modules/bbp-notify/index.ts

@@ -7,10 +7,22 @@ interface BbpNotifyNative {
    * to endTimeMillis. Returns a short diagnostic string (e.g. "posted enabled=true").
    */
   showCountdown(title: string, body: string, endTimeMillis: number): Promise<string>;
+  /** Same ticking countdown, plus "End" / "Pay" action buttons. */
+  showCheckin(
+    title: string,
+    body: string,
+    endTimeMillis: number,
+    endLabel: string,
+    payLabel: string,
+  ): Promise<string>;
   /** Remove the countdown notification. */
   clear(): Promise<void>;
+  /** Read + clear the action a notification button set: 'end' | 'pay' | ''. */
+  consumePendingAction(): Promise<string>;
 }
 
+export type PendingAction = 'end' | 'pay' | null;
+
 // Android-only, and only present in a build that includes the native module
 // (returns null in Expo Go / other platforms — callers degrade gracefully).
 const native =
@@ -30,6 +42,23 @@ export async function showCountdown(
   return native.showCountdown(title, body, endTimeMillis);
 }
 
+export async function showCheckin(
+  title: string,
+  body: string,
+  endTimeMillis: number,
+  endLabel: string,
+  payLabel: string,
+): Promise<string> {
+  if (!native) return 'no-native-module';
+  return native.showCheckin(title, body, endTimeMillis, endLabel, payLabel);
+}
+
 export async function clearCountdown(): Promise<void> {
   await native?.clear();
 }
+
+/** Read + clear a notification-button action taken while the app was away. */
+export async function consumePendingAction(): Promise<PendingAction> {
+  const a = await native?.consumePendingAction();
+  return a === 'end' || a === 'pay' ? a : null;
+}

app/src/features/checkin/checkin.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+import { useEffect } from 'react';
+import { AppState, Platform } from 'react-native';
+import { useNavigation } from '@react-navigation/native';
+import type { NativeStackNavigationProp } from '@react-navigation/native-stack';
+import * as Notifications from 'expo-notifications';
+import type { Zone } from 'parksmarter-client';
+import type { RootStackParamList } from '@/navigation/RootNavigator';
+import {
+  showCheckin,
+  clearCountdown,
+  consumePendingAction,
+  hasNativeCountdown,
+} from '../../../modules/bbp-notify';
+import { getReminderLeadMinutes, getRemindersEnabled, getCountdownEnabled } from '@/features/notifications/reminderPrefs';
+import { ensureNotificationPermission } from '@/notifications/localReminders';
+import { logLine } from '@/features/diagnostics/fileLogger';
+import { labelHours, type LabelKind } from '@/api/zoneLabels';
+import { getCheckin, setCheckin, clearCheckinState, type CheckinState } from './checkinStore';
+
+const ALERT_ID = 'checkin-alert';
+const FALLBACK_NOTIF_ID = 'checkin-status';
+
+function fmtTime(ms: number): string {
+  return new Date(ms).toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' });
+}
+
+/** Post (or re-post) the ongoing ticking check-in notification with End/Pay buttons. */
+async function postCheckinNotification(s: CheckinState): Promise<void> {
+  if (!(await getCountdownEnabled())) return;
+  const ends = fmtTime(s.endMs);
+  if (hasNativeCountdown) {
+    const diag = await showCheckin(`Free parking · ${s.zoneName}`, `Free until ${ends}`, s.endMs, 'End', 'Pay');
+    logLine(`[CHECKIN] native: ${diag}`);
+    return;
+  }
+  // Fallback (Expo Go / non-native): a static ongoing notification, no buttons.
+  await Notifications.scheduleNotificationAsync({
+    identifier: FALLBACK_NOTIF_ID,
+    content: {
+      title: `Free parking · ${s.zoneName}`,
+      body: `Free until ${ends}`,
+      sticky: true,
+      autoDismiss: false,
+      data: { kind: 'session-status' },
+    },
+    trigger:
+      Platform.OS === 'android'
+        ? { type: Notifications.SchedulableTriggerInputTypes.DATE, date: new Date(Date.now() + 400), channelId: 'session-status' }
+        : null,
+  });
+}
+
+async function scheduleCheckinAlert(s: CheckinState): Promise<void> {
+  await Notifications.cancelScheduledNotificationAsync(ALERT_ID).catch(() => {});
+  if (!(await getRemindersEnabled())) return;
+  const fireAt = s.endMs - s.leadMinutes * 60_000;
+  if (fireAt <= Date.now()) return;
+  await Notifications.scheduleNotificationAsync({
+    identifier: ALERT_ID,
+    content: {
+      title: 'Free parking ending soon',
+      body: `${s.zoneName}: your free time ends at ${fmtTime(s.endMs)}. Pay to extend or move your car.`,
+      data: { kind: 'checkin-alert' },
+    },
+    trigger: {
+      type: Notifications.SchedulableTriggerInputTypes.DATE,
+      date: new Date(fireAt),
+      channelId: 'session-reminders',
+    },
+  });
+}
+
+/** Start a local free check-in for `hours` at the given zone. */
+export async function startCheckin(zone: Zone, hours: number): Promise<void> {
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const state: CheckinState = {
+    zone,
+    zoneName: zone.ZoneName ?? 'Parking',
+    startMs: now,
+    endMs: now + hours * 3_600_000,
+    kind: `free_${hours}h` as LabelKind,
+    leadMinutes: await getReminderLeadMinutes(),
+  };
+  await setCheckin(state);
+  await ensureNotificationPermission();
+  await postCheckinNotification(state);
+  await scheduleCheckinAlert(state);
+}
+
+/** End the active check-in and clear its notifications. */
+export async function endCheckin(): Promise<void> {
+  await clearCheckinState();
+  await clearCountdown().catch(() => {});
+  await Notifications.dismissNotificationAsync(FALLBACK_NOTIF_ID).catch(() => {});
+  await Notifications.cancelScheduledNotificationAsync(ALERT_ID).catch(() => {});
+}
+
+/** Hours of free time for a label kind, or null for pay-immediate. */
+export { labelHours };
+
+/**
+ * Keep the check-in in sync on foreground: apply any notification-button action
+ * (End clears it; Pay hands off to the paid flow), drop expired check-ins, and
+ * re-post the ongoing notification (e.g. after a reboot). Mirrors useSessionStatusSync.
+ */
+export function useCheckinSync(): void {
+  const navigation = useNavigation<NativeStackNavigationProp<RootStackParamList>>();
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const run = async () => {
+      const action = await consumePendingAction();
+      if (action === 'end') {
+        await endCheckin();
+        return;
+      }
+      if (action === 'pay') {
+        const s = await getCheckin();
+        await endCheckin();
+        if (s?.zone) navigation.navigate('StartSession', { zone: s.zone });
+        return;
+      }
+      const s = await getCheckin();
+      if (!s) return;
+      if (s.endMs <= Date.now()) {
+        await endCheckin();
+      } else {
+        await postCheckinNotification(s);
+      }
+    };
+    void run();
+    const sub = AppState.addEventListener('change', (state) => {
+      if (state === 'active') void run();
+    });
+    return () => sub.remove();
+  }, [navigation]);
+}

app/src/features/checkin/checkinStore.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import AsyncStorage from '@react-native-async-storage/async-storage';
+import type { Zone } from 'parksmarter-client';
+import type { LabelKind } from '@/api/zoneLabels';
+
+/**
+ * A local, API-free "check-in" for a free time-limited space. The full Zone is
+ * stored so the notification's "Pay" button can hand off straight into the paid
+ * flow without re-fetching. Only one active check-in at a time.
+ */
+const KEY = 'ps_checkin';
+
+export interface CheckinState {
+  zone: Zone;
+  zoneName: string;
+  startMs: number;
+  endMs: number;
+  kind: LabelKind;
+  leadMinutes: number;
+}
+
+export async function getCheckin(): Promise<CheckinState | null> {
+  const raw = await AsyncStorage.getItem(KEY);
+  return raw ? (JSON.parse(raw) as CheckinState) : null;
+}
+
+export async function setCheckin(state: CheckinState): Promise<void> {
+  await AsyncStorage.setItem(KEY, JSON.stringify(state));
+}
+
+export async function clearCheckinState(): Promise<void> {
+  await AsyncStorage.removeItem(KEY);
+}

app/src/navigation/RootNavigator.tsx

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import { DiagnosticsScreen } from '@/screens/DiagnosticsScreen';
 import { AdminScreen } from '@/screens/AdminScreen';
 import { useTheme } from '@/theme/ThemeContext';
 import { useSessionStatusSync } from '@/notifications/sessionStatus';
+import { useCheckinSync } from '@/features/checkin/checkin';
 import type { ActiveSession, PastSession, Zone } from 'parksmarter-client';
 
 export type RootStackParamList = {
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@ const TAB_ICONS: Record<keyof TabParamList, keyof typeof Ionicons.glyphMap> = {
 function Tabs() {
   // Keep the ongoing "time left" status notification fresh (on open + foreground).
   useSessionStatusSync();
+  // Apply check-in notification actions (End/Pay) + keep its countdown in sync.
+  useCheckinSync();
   return (
     <Tab.Navigator
       screenOptions={({ route }) => ({

app/src/screens/MeterDetailScreen.tsx

@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ import { getAdminToken } from '@/api/adminStore';
 import {
   deleteLabel,
   getCachedLabel,
+  labelHours,
   labelText,
   refreshLabels,
   setLabel,
   type LabelKind,
   type ZoneLabel,
 } from '@/api/zoneLabels';
+import { startCheckin } from '@/features/checkin/checkin';
 
 /** Admin labeling buttons — kind, or 'clear' to remove. */
 const LABEL_CHOICES: Array<{ label: string; kind: LabelKind | 'clear' }> = [
@@ -133,6 +135,18 @@ export function MeterDetailScreen() {
     Alert.alert('Saved', `${z.ZoneName ?? 'Kiosk'} added to your saved kiosks.`);
   };
 
+  const freeHours = label ? labelHours(label.kind) : null;
+
+  const onCheckin = async () => {
+    if (!freeHours) return;
+    await startCheckin(z, freeHours);
+    Alert.alert(
+      'Checked in',
+      `Free parking for ${freeHours}h. You'll get a heads-up before it ends — with buttons to pay or end.`,
+      [{ text: 'OK', onPress: () => navigation.navigate('Tabs') }],
+    );
+  };
+
   const firstSpace = z.Spaces?.[0];
   const currentPolicy = firstSpace?.Policies?.find((p) => p.CurrentSlot);
 
@@ -244,11 +258,25 @@ export function MeterDetailScreen() {
         </Text>
       </TouchableOpacity>
 
+      {freeHours ? (
+        <TouchableOpacity style={[styles.button, { backgroundColor: '#1b5e20' }]} onPress={onCheckin}>
+          <Text style={[styles.buttonText, { color: '#fff' }]}>
+            Check in (free · {freeHours}h)
+          </Text>
+        </TouchableOpacity>
+      ) : null}
+
+      {label?.kind === 'pay_immediate' ? (
+        <Text style={[styles.note, { color: colors.subtext }]}>Pay immediately — no free window here.</Text>
+      ) : null}
+
       <TouchableOpacity
-        style={[styles.button, { backgroundColor: colors.primary }]}
+        style={[styles.button, { backgroundColor: freeHours ? colors.card : colors.primary }]}
         onPress={() => navigation.navigate('StartSession', { zone: z })}
       >
-        <Text style={[styles.buttonText, { color: '#fff' }]}>Start parking session</Text>
+        <Text style={[styles.buttonText, { color: freeHours ? colors.text : '#fff' }]}>
+          Start parking session
+        </Text>
       </TouchableOpacity>
     </ScrollView>
   );
@@ -273,4 +301,5 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   badgeText: { fontSize: 13, fontWeight: '700' },
   chipRow: { flexDirection: 'row', flexWrap: 'wrap', gap: 8 },
   chip: { borderWidth: 1, borderRadius: 999, paddingHorizontal: 14, paddingVertical: 8 },
+  note: { marginTop: 12, fontSize: 13, textAlign: 'center' },
 });

app/src/screens/StartSessionScreen.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { ps } from '@/api/client';
 import { useTheme } from '@/theme/ThemeContext';
 import { scheduleExpiryReminder } from '@/notifications/localReminders';
 import { showSessionStatus } from '@/notifications/sessionStatus';
+import { endCheckin } from '@/features/checkin/checkin';
 import { logLine } from '@/features/diagnostics/fileLogger';
 import type { RootStackParamList } from '@/navigation/RootNavigator';
 import {
@@ -274,6 +275,8 @@ export function StartSessionScreen() {
         minCreditAmount: zone.MinimumAmount,
         meterTypeId: zone.MeterTypeId!,
       });
+      // Paid session supersedes any free check-in (they share the notification).
+      await endCheckin();
       // Schedule the local expiry reminder from the purchased end time.
       const end = parseApiTime(selected.EndTime);
       if (end) {