Inspiration
Roommates, especially living in campus dorms or apartments, often tend to
struggle with working around each other’s schedules and duties, such as
coordinating quiet hours, planning study sessions, managing chores (e.g.
laundry, dishes), and handling monthly bills. These challenges often risk being missed
tasks, miscommunication, and frustration between roommates. While there are
some basic solutions, such as sticky notes and phone reminders, oftentimes such
techniques can be hard to track for roommates and end up being
disorganized.
As such, there is a need for a task system that allows roommates to visualize
schedules, assign chores, and manage daily responsibilities in a way that is
more effective, easy to manage, and most importantly, engaging.
What it does
Our website provides a centralized dashboard where the user and their roommates can coordinate their tasks, track chores and bills, and view each other's schedules and availability in an 80s-inspired retro style interface. The features of the website include a roommate status viewer with current activity with a quiet hours indicator, a daily schedule viewer, a chore tracker with task assignment and completion, and bill tracking for payment and deadlines.
How we built it
We started by brainstorming a wide range of ideas based on everyday problems and sustainability topics, then voted on the one we felt was the most achievable and meaningful. After that, we drafted the core features and divided the work into backend, with Alex as the lead and Tammy as the assistant, and frontend, with Sasha as the lead and Earl as the assistant. During the hackathon, the backend team worked onsite while the frontend team worked remotely, syncing through Discord and GitHub. Finally, we iterated continuously by testing each feature and redesigning the system as we encountered challenges.
Task Distribution
Alex: Handled the backend logic, implemented the database using Firebase, converted the original Java classes into JavaScript, and integrated the backend with the frontend.
Tammy: Worked on the initial backend structure by creating the Java classes for chores, schedules, and roommate features. Also created the project slides and contributed to writing the project story and documentation.
Sasha: Focused on the JavaScript functionality of the site, helping implement interactions and UI behavior using JS, and assisting with debugging.
Earl: Designed and built most of the main UI using HTML and CSS, including layout, styling, and overall visual design of the site’s interface.
Challenges we ran into
During the development, there were challenges that both the backend and frontend teams faced. On the front end, we initially planned to build a 3D interface, but due to time constraints, we had to pivot to a 2D layout. We also struggled to set up the project, such as connecting the UI components with each other and learning JavaScript and its libraries in a short amount of time. On the back end, we found that implementing SQL was too complex within the hackathon timeframe, and integrating Java with a JavaScript-based frontend created additional difficulties. Attempts to store data using JSON files also became hard to manage. As a result, we ultimately shifted to using JavaScript with Firebase for our backend, with guidance from mentors.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are proud of how much we were able to learn and accomplish during the hackathon despite numerous challenges. Sasha is proud of gaining new technical skills and seeing how the team collaborated to solve problems from project initialization through final execution. Earl is proud of designing around 70% of the main UI, including the HTML structure and CSS styling. Tammy is proud of learning quickly, navigating the pressures of a hackathon, and effectively collaborating with teammates. Overall, we are proud of our ability to adapt, work under pressure, and support one another to bring our project to life.
What we learned
Throughout the hackathon, we gained valuable skills and experiences. Sasha gained experience with JavaScript, its libraries, and designing user interfaces. Earl learned how to adapt to sudden changes, collaborate effectively with teammates, and incorporate others’ ideas into the project. Tammy learned Java, experienced working under pressure, and developed skills in collaborating with strangers and navigating the unique challenges of a hackathon. Alex learned JavaScript at an accelerated pace and became familiar with using JSON, even though it was ultimately not implemented. Overall, we learned how to quickly adapt, problem-solve, and work together to bring our project to life.
What's next for My Little World
For future development, we plan to add the ability to customize roommate names and chore types, as well as mark bills as paid. We also want to include notifications for upcoming tasks and deadlines, implement stronger security features, and create a mobile version of the website to make it more accessible. These improvements would help streamline task management and enhance the overall user experience.
Alignment with Technica's Mission
Our project aligns with Technica’s mission by focusing on building tools that support collaboration, communication, and shared responsibility, which are values that uplift underrepresented genders in tech. Throughout this hackathon, we combined different skill levels and perspectives to solve a real problem faced by many students living together. We built a space where all users, regardless of identity, can stay organized, advocate for their needs, and share responsibilities more equitably.
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