Inspiration

FamTree was born from a deeply personal frustration: I realized that beyond my grandparents, I knew almost nothing about my family, not just their names or birthplaces, but who they truly were. I wanted more than a lineage chart, I wanted connection, stories, and a living record that future generations could engage with to understand who we were and how we lived. This desire to bridge emotional gaps in family history inspired me to build a platform that honors both facts and feelings.

What it does

FamTrees is a digital platform that allows families to build interactive, story-rich family trees. Each family member gets a profile that can include photos, timeline moments, and relationships. Users can visually explore their family tree using D3.js, clicking on individuals to view their life story, connections, and important moments. It’s more than genealogy it’s a living archive of memories, personalities, and legacy.

How we built it

FamTrees was built using bolt.new 100% except for a few things regarding supabase changes for edge functions and real time updates and react js. The frontend leverages D3.js for dynamic tree visualization, giving users an intuitive and engaging way to explore their family structure. Profiles are enriched with multimedia content and structured data to build timelines and relationships. We focused on creating a smooth user experience that balances data structure with emotional storytelling.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was designing a visual tree structure that scales well with large, complex families while still being easy to navigate. Managing nested relationships and rendering them dynamically using D3.js required careful handling of layout, zoom, and interactivity. Another hurdle was balancing structured data input with the freedom to add rich, relationship driven connections, which required thoughtful UX design.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud of how FamTrees transforms the traditional family tree into an emotional and interactive experience. It’s not just a technical achievement it’s a platform with heart. Creating a product that helps people preserve family stories and feel a deeper sense of belonging has been incredibly fulfilling. Seeing a complete tree come alive with faces, timelines, and interwoven relationships is powerful.

What we learned

We learned how much depth and complexity goes into capturing family histories in a meaningful way. It’s not just about tech it’s about empathy. Designing for real people and their memories taught us to prioritize user experience and emotional resonance. We also gained valuable experience in data visualization and building scalable front-end structures.

What's next for FamTrees

The journey doesn't end here. Next, we’re integrating medical history tracking to let families share and pass down vital genetic and health information. This addition bridges emotional legacy with physical well-being, making FamTrees not just a tool for remembering the past but also for protecting the future. We’re also exploring collaborative storytelling features and voice/video memories to bring family archives to life in new ways.

Built With

Share this project:

Updates

posted an update

Hey everyone while we are waiting for the judges to finalise the winners let me know what you would like to be added into the Famtree's platform, this will help me with planning out the next stages of this platform.

Cheers

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.

posted an update

FamTrees

FamTrees is an interactive family tree platform that helps people preserve their stories, share memories, and stay connected across generations. It goes beyond names and dates to build a living, collaborative archive of your family’s life.

Core Features

  • User Profiles
    Each family member can create their own profile with a photo, short bio, and key details.
  • Timeline & Life Events
    Users can add personal milestones—birthdays, weddings, achievements—and tag other family members. Events include photos and dates, creating a shared family timeline.
  • Relationship Mapping
    Easily set and view relationships (e.g. parent, child, sibling, spouse) between family members to build an accurate family network.
  • Profile Linking & Discovery
    Click on anyone in the tree to view their full profile, timeline, and family connections.
  • Visual Family Tree (D3.js)
    A fully interactive family tree that grows with each connection. Users can zoom, click, and explore the structure visually.
  • Voting & Connection Approval
    Family members can vote others into the tree, helping confirm relationships and keep everything community-verified.
  • Photo Uploads
    Users can upload photos to profiles or timeline events, helping build a rich, visual family archive.
  • Cross-Profile Access
    Family members can view each other’s profiles and life events, creating a transparent, connected family history. ## Coming Soon
  • Medical History Tracking
    Families will soon be able to add and view medical history, helping identify and track health patterns across generations. --- ## FamTrees helps you:
  • Be remembered by future generations
  • Share your life and milestones
  • Explore your roots in a way that’s interactive and meaningful Try it now: www.famtrees.xyz

Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.