CaveNet

CaveNet homepage feed.
Stats Screen
Tribe page
Character screen

Inspiration

CaveNet was inspired by modern social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, but reimagined through a primitive, caveman-style lens. The goal was to make social interaction feel more meaningful by tying engagement to survival concepts like fire and food instead of simple likes. We also wanted to incorporate a playful, nostalgic element, which led to the idea of a mini-game inspired by the Chrome Dino runner. This allowed users to actively earn resources rather than passively interact, creating a more engaging and gamified experience.

What it does

CaveNet is a social media platform where users can create posts (“carves”) and interact with others using reactions like fire and food. These interactions influence the “heat” of a post, visually represented through dynamic glowing effects that shift between cold (blue) and hot (orange).

The platform also includes a mini-game where users can hunt for food. The resources earned in the game can be used within the social system, connecting gameplay directly to user interaction and progression.

How we built it

We built CaveNet using a full-stack architecture. The frontend was developed with React and TypeScript, using a structured layout with reusable components and page-based routing. The backend API handled user data, posts, and interactions, allowing for dynamic updates across the platform.

We focused heavily on UI/UX design, implementing features like:

Dynamic glow effects based on engagement levels
A themed cave-style interface using gradients and animations
A modular structure separating pages, components, and logic

Git and GitHub were used for version control, including feature branches, merging, and resolving conflicts to maintain a clean and collaborative workflow.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was managing the project structure as it grew in complexity. Transitioning from a simple frontend setup to a full application with routing and multiple pages made it difficult to determine where new features should be implemented.

Another challenge was working with Git, especially handling merge conflicts and keeping our branch up to date with the main repository. Understanding how to properly merge changes without breaking functionality required careful debugging and coordination.

We also faced challenges integrating different systems, such as connecting the mini-game with the main posting system. Ensuring smooth data flow and maintaining consistency across components required additional planning and refactoring.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are most proud of creating a unique and cohesive theme that transforms a familiar concept into something original and engaging. The dynamic glow system for posts adds a strong visual identity, and the integration of a mini-game into a social platform is a feature that goes beyond standard implementations.

We also successfully structured a full-stack application with clean organization, making it scalable and maintainable for future development.

What we learned

Through this project, we gained valuable experience working with a full-stack system, including frontend architecture, API integration, and state management. We also developed a stronger understanding of Git workflows, including branching, merging, and resolving conflicts.

Additionally, we learned how important user experience is. Small design choices, like animations and color feedback, significantly impact how users interact with and perceive the application. We also learned to think in terms of systems, ensuring that different parts of the app work together rather than independently.

What's next for CaveNet

Future improvements for CaveNet include expanding the mini-game into a more advanced system with scoring, difficulty scaling, and a leaderboard. We also plan to fully integrate resource tracking into the backend so that food and engagement are persistent across sessions.

Other potential features include: