NetForge

Inspiration

We created NetForge to help students learn networking in a more practical and interactive way. Networking can be difficult to understand when you only study theory, so we wanted to create something where students can actually practice troubleshooting networks and learn from their mistakes.

What it does

NetForge is an interactive networking learning platform. It provides networking labs where users can work with devices such as PCs, switches, and routers. Users can troubleshoot network problems, complete challenges, and learn important networking concepts while practicing.

How we built it

We built NetForge as a web-based application using modern web technologies. We used GitHub for version control and AI coding tools to help with development. The platform includes an interactive lab system, networking devices, troubleshooting scenarios, and learning content.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was making the networking labs feel realistic while still being simple enough for beginners. We also had to figure out how to handle different devices, network configurations, errors, and troubleshooting steps. Making everything work together smoothly in the interface was another challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud that NetForge has grown from a basic idea into an interactive networking learning platform. We created realistic troubleshooting labs and included different networking devices and scenarios. We are especially proud of making networking practice more interactive instead of just showing students theory.

What we learned

We learned a lot about networking concepts by building the platform, including IP addresses, subnetting, gateways, routing, switches, and troubleshooting. We also learned more about building a full web application, using GitHub, working with AI coding tools, and turning an idea into a working project.

What's next for NetForge

We want to continue improving NetForge by adding more networking labs, better animations, more devices, and more troubleshooting scenarios. We also want to add progress tracking and more guided learning so students can understand why a solution works instead of simply finding the answer.

Built With

• ai
• coding
• css
• github
• react
• tailwind
• typescript
• vercel
• vite