ASU-TextBook-Marketplace

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AutoList Feature
Listings

Inspiration

As students at ASU, we all shared the same issue: textbooks are expensive, and the existing ways to buy and sell them are inefficient and unreliable. We were inspired to create a centralized, secure, and student-only platform that not only makes the process simple but also builds trust by verifying every user through ASU credentials.

What it does

Sun Devil Marketplace is a web application that provides ASU students with a safe and convenient way to buy and sell textbooks. It uses university email authentication combined with Duo push to ensure that only verified students can participate. Once logged in, users can post listings with details such as price, ISBN, and course code, or browse through live listings that update instantly. Buyers can filter and search for books with ease, while sellers benefit from the Auto-List feature, which uses OCR and the Google Books API to scan a photo of a textbook and automatically generate the title, edition, and suggested price. To make the process even smoother, the platform includes an in-app messaging system that allows students to securely communicate and arrange exchanges without leaving the site.

How we built it

We developed Sun Devil Marketplace collaboratively in Visual Studio Code using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the front end, focusing on building a clean and interactive interface. Data was structured in JSON to ensure consistency. On the backend, we used Firebase to handle authentication, data storage, real-time updates, and file hosting. Firebase Authentication was configured with ASU’s Single Sign-On and Duo push to guarantee security, while Firestore managed our real-time listings and messaging system. The Auto-List feature combined Firebase storage, OCR for text extraction, and the Google Books API to enrich listings with accurate metadata and pricing.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was implementing Duo-authenticated login through Firebase, which required us to research authentication flows and test security protocols extensively. Another difficulty was building the OCR pipeline and ensuring it could reliably process text from images and connect that information to the Google Books API.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are especially proud that we built a fully functional, end-to-end marketplace within the hackathon timeline. From secure authentication to real-time listings and integrated messaging, every piece came together into a cohesive platform that feels production-ready rather than just a prototype. The Auto-List feature, which combines OCR and external APIs, is another highlight, as it significantly lowers the barrier for users to post books and demonstrates the technical creativity of our team.

What we learned

This project taught us the importance of balancing user experience with strong technical design. We learned how to integrate Firebase services to take advantage of real-time databases, authentication, and storage. We also gained experience with OCR and external APIs, which showed us how powerful third-party tools can be when combined with our own code. We also learned how to collaborate effectively under the pressure of a hackathon, sharing responsibilities and solving complex problems as a team.

What's next for ASU-TextBook-Marketplace

Looking ahead, we want to expand Sun Devil Marketplace into a platform that serves the entire ASU community and potentially other universities. Our next steps include integrating secure payment options, adding a scheduling feature to help students arrange safe meetups, and developing a mobile application to improve accessibility. With the foundation we built during this hackathon, we see great potential for this project to scale and truly make an impact on student life.