New app makes it easier to find drink specials in Muncie

<p>Senior computer science major Jake Sulkoske decided to make drnk after him and his group of friends would search websites for each bar's drink specials. <em>PHOTO COURTESY OF DRNK</em></p>

Senior computer science major Jake Sulkoske decided to make drnk after him and his group of friends would search websites for each bar's drink specials. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRNK

Jake Sulkoske officially released his app drnk Aug. 14. It is currently only available in the Apple Store.

Students looking for drink specials in the Muncie area can now hold that information in the palms of their hands, thanks to a new iPhone app developed by a Ball State student. 

Jake Sulkoske, a senior computer science major, developed the app, drnk, to make finding local alcohol specials easier for legal drinkers. 

“I got into computer science to make people happy,” Sulkoske said. “So I hope at the end of the day that’s what it does—it makes the people using it happy and it makes their lives easier. And I hope it just promotes a good time.”

Sulkoske came up with the idea for drnk while sitting in his living room with his friends, wondering what they could get to drink that afternoon. As the group searched websites trying to find each bar’s specials, Sulkoske got the idea to combine all that information into one place. 

He began to teach himself how to write apps for iOS, Apple's operating system for its mobile devices, in February 2015. Once he began working on the app, Sulkoske realized he needed more help, so he asked his friends Faris Shatat and David Eichel, both senior computer science majors, for their assistance. Shatat said he was glad to develop his skills while helping out students.

“I just wanted to test my programming abilities, and I thought the idea was wonderful, so I said, ‘Why not?’” Shatat said. “It’s just a great thing because a lot of college students kind of complain about not having something like [drnk], so I felt like this would’ve been a great help to students at Ball State.”

The app has a simple interface, with tabs labeled “bars,” “stores” and “near me.” Its darker colors are meant to be easy on the eyes, especially for anyone whose sight may be impaired due to drinking.

Allyson Priest, a senior history major, uses the app to look at the local specials before she goes out on the weekend. She said she likes that the bars in the Village are included, but would like to see the rest of the bars in Muncie added.

“[Going out is] easier because you have access to all of the bar specials in one app instead of having to search on several social media platforms to find them,” Priest said.

Sulkoske said he hopes the app will gain popularity and expand to other college campuses besides Ball State. He said there will be an update to the app by December, which will take user suggestions into consideration for new features.

“As soon as I can get a big enough reputation for the app, we’re going to try to take it to campuses [and] hopefully, across the world,” Sulkoske said. “That’s the dream.”

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