ISBN->Library,WhatsApp!

Scan, fetch and save book details -- all inside WhatsApp. No other apps needed.

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Inspiration

If my house were to be burnt down, the only things I would like to have with me... were my books. Book lovers like myself have an unspoken desire to "record" everything that we own and read - But there was no easy way. We had to explore all the apps, typing titles line by line, saved book details in the app where book management is not easy -- And it takes ages to do just that. In fact, I do not want to "create" new apps, I just want this problem to be solved with what we are doing everyday, naturally -- Sending image/ text effortlessly, and have someone(?) to get the organizing work done for me.

What it does

  1. User send an ISBN photo to a whatsapp number
  2. The agent will extract, search and return organized info. back to User
  3. User can send photos continuously, because Step 2. is async
  4. Info. will be recorded in unstructured format in WhatsApp (just like log); and structured format in User-owned database (like google sheet)

How we built it

  1. Deep meditations about my and other people's life
  2. Identify the gaps between existing solutions and "most ideal solution"
  3. Write thoughtful PRD
  4. Hand the PRD to Amazon Q and let it do the job in a few shot
  5. Some fine-tuning

Challenges we ran into

  1. Stateful/ Stateless Design
  2. Serverless Design ----> AWS provide all solutions that I need

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  1. Now I finally get control of my own library

What we learned

  1. Tech stuff - Database/ BE/ FE (not really UI; but minimalistic UX)/ APIs
  2. Functional & Performance Tradeoffs - e.g. which API's result to be used considering speed, quality, comprehensiveness and cost effectiveness
  3. Just generally how to find and solve people's problems... Product comes last to be honest

What's next for ISBN->Library,WhatsApp!

Future Use Cases:

  1. When User try to add same book that already exists in their Database, will return alert ("Sure you want to buy an extra one?)
  2. When User scan the book, they can "Start" tracking reading time and jot notes --> In the structured database, the notes will be related back to the book entry
  3. When User open the structured database, can easily manage and copy info. into different book resell platforms for reselling and donation purpose.

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