Self-Destructing Messaging App - Save in Background doesn't work if user goes back to camera

So the reason is that the view controller isn't reset ([self reset]) until the message is uploaded successfully. Since the save is happening in the background, if it takes longer than it takes you to go back to the camera, then the view controller hasn't been reset, which is why you don't see the camera. This is to prevent losing the image or video if uploading fails for some reason.

Any elegant solution will require a little more checking and storing things. Take Instagram, for example. If the upload fails, the message shows at the top of your feed with an option to try again. So with Ribbit, one solution would be to store the message locally in the app while it's uploading, reset the view controller, allow the user to access the camera for a new message, but still create an option for resending that message you're holding onto if it fails. Another solution would be to show a progress dialog or something to block actions until the upload finishes.

What I would do is embed all of the view controllers within the app in a parent view controller that observes a notification, say RIBMessageUploadedSuccessfully. When the notification is sent, the parent view controller can pop a modal (or just slide a bar down) on top of whatever the user is doing. You'll just need to fire the notification off once the upload is complete (and also write the message to disk as well).

You can also have other notifications as well for different statuses - RIBMessageFailedToUpload is another good option.