PicFinds

PicFinds lets you easily create, manage, and share photo galleries. Secure, user-friendly, and perfect for showcasing your visual content.

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About the Project

Inspiration

The inspiration for PicFinds came from a real problem faced by students on campuses across Kenya: the lack of a simple and accessible platform to share and showcase their creative work. Whether it’s photography, art, or design, students often struggle to find an organized and professional way to display their visual content. Social media platforms like Instagram aren’t tailored for gallery curation, and students need a space where they can present their projects and portfolios in a meaningful way.

What I Learned

Throughout the development of PicFinds, I learned a great deal about creating scalable web applications that focus on user experience and security. I dove deep into using Auth0 for authentication, ensuring that every user’s data is secure. I also mastered the integration of Cloudinary for seamless image uploading and management, providing an efficient and user-friendly process for uploading high-quality images.

How I Built the Project

The project was built using React and Material UI on the frontend, with Express.js and SQLite on the backend. I chose this stack to ensure both simplicity and scalability. React allowed for a dynamic and responsive user interface, while SQLite provided a lightweight but effective solution for database management. Using Railway for deployment made the process smooth and allowed me to continuously update the project without any downtime.

Challenges I Faced

The most significant challenge was managing peer dependencies and ensuring smooth integration between multiple technologies. Auth0 integration posed some initial difficulties with session management, but overcoming these hurdles taught me valuable problem-solving skills. Additionally, I had to address real-world challenges, such as creating a user experience that feels personal and intuitive for students while making sure the app is efficient and fast.

This project serves as a stepping stone towards providing a platform for campus creatives to find their voice and connect through the power of visual storytelling.

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