Inspiration
We often find ourselves in situations where borrowing small amounts of money is convenient and simplifies things. The downside is having to track how much each person owes to whom, and figuring out the change to settle fractional sums.
What it does
Borrow is designed to be an easier to use and more flexible way to track money borrowing than any other solution currently available.
How I built it
The app uses blockchains to store a history of transactions between the smartphone owner and any number of people. Transactions must be signed, such that it is impossible to give yourself money. The mechanism is peer-to-peer and no internet connection is necessary at any point. Information is exchanged using a QR code-based protocol transmitted using the phones' front-facing cameras and screens.
We have built a proof of concept on Android, though since no special hardware is necessary it will also work on iPhones.
Challenges I ran into
None of us had relevant previous experience with Android, so even the trivial app-related things were a challenge. The screen-to-screen communication was also finicky at first, and of course blockchain is easier said than done.
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
Although the functionality is limited, the app actually works.
What I learned
Android 101, how to sleep comfortably on the floor, dextro energy is not a dinner substitute, rolling your own security never works.
What's next for borrow
- The ability for the borrower to confirm that the amount was borrowed before commiting it to the chain;
- Reviewing the history of transactions with another person in detail;
- Other transmission methods, such as NFC.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.