Beacon

The Map that Gives Back

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Inspiration

We wanted to make it easier for people to find basic support when they need it fast. Beacon was inspired by the idea that small things like water, restrooms, food, and a safe place to rest can make a huge difference, especially when someone is out in the city and needs help right away.

What it does

Beacon is a community map that helps people find nearby water fountains, public restrooms, free food, and safe places to rest. Users can browse the map, search for places, filter by category, and see live updates. They can also add and verify locations so the map keeps getting better over time.

How we built it

We built Beacon with TanStack Start and React, and used Leaflet for the map. Supabase handles the backend, database, and real-time updates. We also used OpenStreetMap data to help surface nearby places, and we organized the project with reusable components and helper functions to keep the app clean and manageable.

Challenges we ran into

One challenge was making the map work smoothly with browser-only tools like Leaflet. Another was connecting the frontend to Supabase in a way that supported live updates and location-based features. We also had to be careful about handling user location, map loading, and keeping the interface responsive.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud that Beacon feels useful, focused, and easy to use. We built a live map experience with search, filters, and real-time data, and we made it work in a way that feels practical for people who actually need nearby resources. We’re also proud of how much functionality we were able to put together in one project.

What we learned

We learned a lot about building a full-stack app with a modern React framework, using maps in the browser, and working with Supabase for live data. We also learned how important it is to design around real human needs, not just features.

What's next for Beacon

We’d like to expand beyond the current area, improve the mobile experience, and make it easier for the community to contribute useful places. In addition, we would like to collaborate with local businesses, host events, and make it user-accessible with multiple languages/voice-to-text feature.

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