Inspiration
We were sitting next to each other working on a group project, yet still using Discord to send files and links back and forth. We wanted to skip the uploads and chat switching and just drag things onto each other’s screens.
What it does
Odyssync is designed to let teammates drag tabs and files between laptops. The prototype shows how transfers would look, with previews, approval prompts, and Focus mode to block interruptions.
How we built it
We built the interface prototype with React, TypeScript, and Vite. The desktop architecture pairs Electron with a Python sidecar, and WebSockets carry communication between devices.
Challenges we ran into
It was a tough task making the crossing between screens feel continuous with minimal latency. We also had to ensure that the overlay did not get into the way of the task the computers were working on.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud that we built something we’d use ourselves. Sharing files comes up every time we work together, and cutting out those extra steps could save us time every day.
What we learned
We learned to test on the desktop early. Transparent windows and mouse input behave differently from a regular browser page, so we built a replay tool to check each interaction with dummy transfers.
What's next for Odyssync
We want to add shared clipboard support, folder transfers, and the ability to resume a transfer if the connection drops. We’d also like to save team setups so people can get back to work without arranging their screens each time.
