LibSync

Real-time library seat finder that helps students grab a spot and study with friends.

Inspiration

During finals week, we noticed students wandering around the library for 15-20 minutes just trying to find an available seat. Even worse, friends couldn't easily find each other to study together. We realized that a real-time seating map could solve both problems while making library spaces more efficient for everyone.

What it does

LibSync provides an interactive map of library seating that:

Shows real-time seat availability with color-coded indicators
Lets students quickly claim and release seats
Helps friends find each other through a simple friend-tracking system
Displays which classes students are studying for, making it easier to find study groups
Tracks occupancy statistics to help students plan their library visits

How we built it

We built LibSync as a lightweight single-page application using:

React 18 for the interactive UI components
Pure JavaScript for state management
SVG for the dynamic seating map
HTML/CSS for layout and styling
Modern browser APIs for real-time updates and timing calculations

We chose this stack to minimize dependencies while maximizing performance and maintainability.

Challenges we ran into

SVG Layout: Creating an intuitive and accurate representation of library seating arrangements using SVG was more complex than anticipated
State Management: Keeping track of multiple states (seat occupancy, friend lists, user selection) while maintaining clean code structure
User Experience: Balancing feature richness with simplicity to ensure students can quickly find seats without getting lost in the interface
Time Tracking: Implementing accurate duration tracking for seat occupancy while handling various edge cases

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Created an intuitive visual interface that requires no tutorial to use
Built a complete solution using minimal dependencies for better performance
Implemented a friend system that respects privacy while being useful
Designed a scalable architecture that can easily add new features
Achieved a clean, modern UI that works smoothly on all devices

What we learned

SVG manipulation and dynamic rendering in React
Effective state management patterns for complex user interactions
The importance of user feedback in UI/UX design
How to balance feature scope with development time
The value of solving real problems faced by students

What's next for LibSync

Mobile App: Develop native mobile apps for easier access
Reservation System: Add the ability to reserve seats in advance
Integration: Connect with university systems to:
- Automatically import class schedules
- Verify student status
- Integrate with campus maps
Analytics: Provide insights on peak hours and usage patterns
Study Groups: Enable students to form and join study groups based on classes
Multiple Libraries: Expand the system to cover all campus libraries
Smart Notifications: Alert students about available seats near friends or study groups