backend + mobile: implement full WebView Follow Engine for LinkedIn in-app connect

[ShantKhatri]

Summary

Product doc section 6.9 specifies a WebView Interaction Engine for LinkedIn since LinkedIn's API does not allow programmatic connection requests. Implement the complete end-to-end flow: the mobile Follow Engine that routes LinkedIn connects through the in-app WebView, session management, and graceful fallback.

Context

apps/mobile/src/screens/WebViewScreen.tsx exists. apps/mobile/src/screens/DevCardViewScreen.tsx has connect buttons. The follow routing backend is at apps/backend/src/routes/follow.ts.

Tasks

• in apps/backend/src/routes/follow.ts, update the LinkedIn platform handler:
  • when followStrategy === 'webview', return { strategy: 'webview', url: '...linkedin profile url...' } instead of an error.
• in apps/mobile/src/screens/DevCardViewScreen.tsx, handle the webview strategy response by navigating to WebViewScreen with the resolved URL.
• update apps/mobile/src/screens/WebViewScreen.tsx:
  • accept { url, platformName } route params.
  • render the URL in a react-native-webview with session cookie sharing enabled.
  • inject a small JS snippet that waits for LinkedIn's 'Connect' button to appear and scrolls it into view (no auto-click — user must tap).
  • show a banner 'You are viewing this profile in DevCard — tap Connect on LinkedIn to send your request'.
  • on WebView URL change, detect if the LinkedIn invite-sent confirmation page loaded and auto-dismiss with success toast.
• add a timeout fallback that opens the LinkedIn deep link if WebView fails to load within 10s.
• document the architecture in apps/backend/README.md section on Follow Engine.

Acceptance Criteria

• tapping 'Connect on LinkedIn' in DevCardViewScreen opens WebViewScreen with the LinkedIn profile.
• user taps LinkedIn's native Connect button to send request.
• success state is detected and communicated back to the app.
• fallback to deep link works on WebView timeout.

Difficulty

advanced — requires WebView session management, JS injection, navigation state detection, and platform compliance awareness.

[Itzzavdheshh]

Hi @ShantKhatri , I am a GSSoC 2026 contributor and would like to work on this. please assign it to me . Thanku

[Itzzavdheshh]

/assign

[amritbej]

Hello,

I would like to work on this issue. I can implement the LinkedIn WebView interaction flow, including backend follow strategy handling, WebView navigation and session management, LinkedIn connect flow detection, timeout fallback handling, and documentation updates while ensuring platform-compliant behavior.

Please assign this issue to me. Thank you!

[ShantKhatri]

Hi @ShantKhatri , I am a GSSoC 2026 contributor and would like to work on this. please assign it to me . Thanku

Welcome @Itzzavdheshh . Assigned.

[ShantKhatri]

Hello,

I would like to work on this issue. I can implement the LinkedIn WebView interaction flow, including backend follow strategy handling, WebView navigation and session management, LinkedIn connect flow detection, timeout fallback handling, and documentation updates while ensuring platform-compliant behavior.

Please assign this issue to me. Thank you!

Hi @amritbej , Warm welcome to our repository, can you please explore any other issue. Would be happy to onboard you.

[mekanH-c]

Hello @ShantKhatri, I’m a GSSoC 2026 contributor and interested in working on this. Kindly assign it to me.

[Itzzavdheshh]

@ShantKhatri & @Harxhit ...its an humble request please give labels to this PR ....