Presently

Inspiration

Website collaboration today is surprisingly inefficient. Developers, designers, clients, and teams still rely on screenshots, emails, and meetings to communicate feedback. This often leads to confusion, repeated revisions, and wasted time.

We noticed that the core problem wasn’t lack of communication — it was that feedback was disconnected from the actual interface. People describe problems in text instead of pointing directly to them.

Presently was inspired by the idea that websites themselves should become collaborative workspaces. Instead of explaining issues, users should be able to visually interact with the website and communicate in context.

Our goal was to simplify collaboration while exploring how intelligent systems can assist teams in improving digital experiences faster.

What it does

Presently transforms any live website into an interactive feedback workspace. Users can: Capture full-page screenshots of live websites Add numbered visual annotations directly on UI elements Share feedback through a clean public link Manage draft and published project versions Collaborate without meetings or unclear communication Presently reduces feedback cycles and helps teams iterate faster on web products.

How we built it

Presently is built as a full-stack SaaS application. Workflow: User enters a website URL Backend captures a high-quality full-page render Interactive annotation layer allows contextual feedback Projects are stored securely and shared via public links

Architecture includes: Frontend: React, TypeScript, Vite, Tailwind CSS Backend: Node.js, Express Automation: Puppeteer-based capture system Database: MongoDB Authentication: JWT & bcrypt Deployment: Vercel + cloud backend services A custom screenshot infrastructure was built instead of relying on third-party services to ensure performance and scalability.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was reliably capturing full-page website states across different layouts and dynamic content. Modern websites load asynchronously, making consistent rendering difficult. We had to handle scrolling behavior, viewport scaling, loading delays, and performance optimization to generate accurate visual captures. Another challenge was designing annotations that feel natural and intuitive without disrupting the website context. Balancing usability, performance, and reliability required multiple architectural iterations.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built and deployed a production-ready SaaS platform Developed custom website capture infrastructure Created an intuitive visual collaboration workflow Designed a scalable project and sharing system Shipped the product independently as a student founder Most importantly, Presently moved from idea → live working product solving a real-world problem.

What we learned

We learned that many workflow problems are not technical limitations but communication problems. By attaching feedback directly to visual interfaces, collaboration becomes significantly faster and clearer. We also learned the importance of building infrastructure tailored to the product rather than depending entirely on external tools. Rapid iteration, user feedback, and execution speed were critical throughout development.

What's next for Presently

Next, we plan to introduce Generative AI capabilities that can automatically analyze websites and generate intelligent visual feedback such as usability suggestions, accessibility improvements, and UI optimization insights. Our long-term vision is to make Presently the collaboration layer between humans and intelligent agents interacting with the web.

Built With

• apis
• authentication
• backend
• cloud
• css
• deployment
• express.js
• frameworks
• infrastructure
• javascript
• jwt
• languages
• mongodb
• node.js
• platforms
• puppeteer
• react
• rest
• tailwind
• technologies
• typescript
• vercel