Garli: Recipes & Meal Planner

## Inspiration

The challenge of building something entirely new from scratch in a short time excited me. I noticed that the recipe app space lacked something truly fun and engaging, most apps feel like digital
filing cabinets. I wanted to create an experience that makes
cooking easier and more enjoyable, motivating people to finally cook those recipes they've been putting off for weeks.

## What it does

Garli is a gamified recipe companion that transforms how people interact with cooking. Users can instantly import recipes from photos, websites, or social media and organize them effortlessly. But the magic is in what comes next:

• Step-by-step cooking mode that guides you through every recipe
• Meal planning to organize your week in seconds
• Auto-generated grocery lists based on your meal plan
• Smart pantry tracking so you know what you already have
• Gamification system with XP, streaks, leagues, leaderboards, and achievements that reward you for actually cooking

The result: people stop saving recipes they never make and start cooking every day.

## How I built it

Garli is built with React Native and Expo, using Supabase for authentication and backend services, RevenueCat for subscriptions, and Lottie and Rive for smooth, interactive animations throughout the app. Every illustration and animation was crafted to give Garli its unique, playful personality.

## Challenges I faced

The biggest challenge was creating all the animations and illustrations in such a short timeframe. Every screen, every interaction, and every achievement badge needed to feel polished and cohesive, doing that under tight deadlines pushed my creative and technical limits.

## What I learned

I learned how to optimize time and resources more effectively, prioritizing what truly impacts the user experience and cutting everything else.

## What I'm proud of

I'm proud of how simple yet complete Garli feels. It delivers results far superior to other apps in the same niche, with less friction and more fun. That balance between simplicity and depth is what makes it special.

## What's next for Garli

Short-term: Distribute the app through Meta Ads and TikTok Ads, leveraging my experience with both platforms. If Garli wins this competition, a significant portion of the prize will go toward distribution with the goal of reaching $20K/month within the first 2 months.

Long-term: Build a community inside the app where users can share their dishes and achievements, creating a social layer that drives retention and makes cooking a shared experience.

Built With

• adobe-illustrator
• react-native
• rive