Alexa+

Inspiration

WhereStuff started with a simple question: what if I could tell an assistant where I put something and ask about it later?

As a college student learning computer science, I wanted to build a small AI project that solves an everyday problem. Remembering the location of a calculator, charger, or set of keys felt like a useful place to start.

What it does

WhereStuff is a web-based simulation of an Alexa+ experience that remembers where users put their belongings.

For example:

• “My key is in the kitchen.”
• Later: “Where is my key?”
• WhereStuff: “Your key’s last recorded location is the kitchen.”

The interface also displays saved items and their locations. It remembers information provided by the user rather than physically tracking objects.

How I built it

I used Python and FastAPI for the backend, SQLite to store item locations, and HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the interface. An AI model interprets natural-language requests so users can interact through conversation.

I developed the project in VS Code connected to a CS50 Codespace. I used OpenAI Codex to help generate code and troubleshoot problems, then tested the app with simple conversations.

Challenges I faced

Getting the app to open correctly from Codespaces took some troubleshooting. I worked through server host and port settings to make the demo accessible in the browser.

I also had to learn the Git workflow for preparing the project for GitHub, including staging files, creating commits, and keeping API credentials and local data out of the repository.

Accomplishments I'm proud of

I turned a small idea into a working demo that can save and retrieve item locations through conversation. Seeing the app remember an item and answer a later question made the project feel useful.

What I learned

I learned how a frontend, backend, AI API, and database work together. I also gained practical experience with environment variables, running a web server, and version control.

Using AI coding assistance helped me build with unfamiliar tools, while testing the result helped me understand how the pieces fit together.

What's next for WhereStuff

I would like to improve item-name matching, make conversations more flexible, and explore separate accounts so each user can keep their own saved items.

Built With

• css
• fastapi
• html
• javascript
• python
• sqlite