Fix Finder

FixFinder is a peer-to-peer platform connecting ASU students with affordable, local services from quick repairs to creative gigs empowering them to offer and find help on campus.

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Inspiration

As busy students, we often struggle to find reliable repair services on a budget. From last-minute repairs to fixing everyday items, we don’t always have the time or resources to figure it out. Whether it’s your laptop, bike, or clothes, ASU students need a solution that's convenient, affordable, and reliable.

FixFinder is inspired by the collectivist spirit found in many Eastern communities, where neighbors support each other through shared skills and mutual aid. We wanted to bring that mindset to ASU by creating a platform where students can both offer and access affordable services from their peers.

At FixFinder, we aim to make users' lives easier by connecting them with affordable, trustworthy, and local everyday services right at their fingertips.

What it does

Users can create an account or sign in to a pre-existing account, browse services offered (like bike repairs, tailoring, tutoring, or creative gigs), and connect with others. It helps students find reliable, affordable help within their own community.

How we built it

We collaborated using GitHub and used tools like Lovable to outline our UI components. React + Vite for the front end, Tailwind CSS for styling, Node.js + Express for the back end, API PostgreSQL + pgAdmin for our database, JWT for authentication, and Postman for testing endpoints.

Challenges we ran into

As first-time backend developers, we encountered challenges setting up and connecting a PostgreSQL database and syncing frontend state with authentication and login/logout flows.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We built a full-stack authenticated app from scratch despite working with databases for the first time. We are also proud that, as a team, we were able to bring different skills to the table and create something innovative.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned how to build and deploy a functional full-stack website, how frontend and backend communicate via HTTP requests, how to manage user sessions with JWTs, and how to create a prototype despite minimal experience.

What's next for Fix Finder

In the future, we plan to enhance our website so that students can create profiles and act as sellers as well. This way, students support students, fostering connectivity within the campus. We plan to do so by integrating messaging features, add cleaner user dashboards, and even incorporate an AI chatbox for self-help suggestions.

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