Code & Crush

Cover
Character Creation
Texting
Calling

Inspiration

Studying Computer Science can often feel like an isolated and draining experience. Students frequently find themselves stuck in repetitive loops of tasks, leading to solo stress and eventual burnout. The core inspiration for Code & Crush was the simple wish for a companion to be there during those long hours of problem-solving.

What it does

Code & Crush is a virtual "StudyDate" companion designed to transform CS burnout into an entertaining adventure. It functions as a playful solution that combines elements of a dating simulator with active studying. Users can:

Create a Unique AI Companion: Interact with a personalized digital partner.
Practice CS Concepts: Engage with practice questions and CS-related exercises.
Personalized Interaction: Experience unique interactions, including a special "Love Call" feature.

How we built it

The project is built on a modern tech stack centered around a Chrome Extension (Manifest v3). The architecture includes:

Frontend: Developed using React.js for the user interface.
State Management: Utilizes chrome.storage.local to handle data.
AI & Logic: Powered by the OpenAI API for LLM support.
Audio: Integration with ElevenLabs to provide voices for the "Love Call" phone features.

Challenges we ran into

During development, the team faced several technical hurdles. Key challenges included:

Managing real-time avatar generation performance.
Developing a robust backend infrastructure that allows for persistent conversations.
Effectively integrating diverse study materials into the playful dating-sim format.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We successfully created a "Virtual StudyDate Companion" that effectively merges the world of dating sims with academic productivity. We are proud of building a functional Chrome Extension that leverages cutting-edge AI for voice and text to make learning more engaging.

What we learned

The team gained significant insights into the integration of AI-driven voice and language models within a browser extension environment. We also explored the balance between gamification (the dating sim aspect) and educational utility.

What's next for Code & Crush

The future of Code & Crush involves several key improvements to enhance the user experience:

Community Building: Creating a space for users to connect.
Deeper Integration: Expanding the library of study materials available within the app.
Technical Refinement: Improving the performance of real-time avatars and conversation persistence.