Ticket 7: Implement Google Places Autocomplete (Geocoding)

[matbbiji]

The backend engine cannot understand text like "UTD Library"; it only understands math (GPS coordinates). We need to upgrade our Search Screen. Instead of a basic text input, implement the Google Places Autocomplete search bar. When the user types an address and selects it from the dropdown, the app must capture the exact latitude and longitude of that location.

Resources: Look up the react-native-google-places-autocomplete library documentation.

• GitHub repo (look at Issues tab if y'all have a weird Expo compatibility error or a styling glitch with the dropdown, the solution is almost always found in a closed GitHub issue where another developer solved the exact same problem)

• npm Docs

• Google Autocomplete docs (stay away from this link tbh but y'all need to go to Google's console to generate the API key)

Definition of Done:

[ ] The react-native-google-places-autocomplete library is installed.

[ ] The search bar is successfully rendered on the "Search Screen".

[ ] When a user types a location (e.g., "Student Union"), a dropdown list of real-world suggestions appears.

[ ] When the user taps a suggestion, the app successfully extracts the latitude and longitude and prints that object to the console.log().

[ ] Crucial: The Google Maps API Key is stored safely in a .env file and is NOT pushed to GitHub.