ChillaX

opening
landing page
specific movie
movie genre

Inspiration: Our passion for iOS development inspired us to create this project. Often, people struggle with indecision when it comes to choosing movies to watch. Offering them a way to explore their options can assist in decision-making.

What it does: The application suggests the latest movies to users, tailored to their genre interests. It also provides a brief description of each movie.

How we built it: We developed the app using Xcode, leveraging native iOS development with Swift and SwiftUI. We integrated an API from TMDB (The Movie Database) and utilized AlamofireImage and UIKit.

Challenges we encountered: We faced several complex challenges during iOS development, known as one of the most demanding areas in the tech industry. We had to address issues such as determining the operating system version, using up-to-date syntax for that system, seamlessly integrating the API with the app while maintaining valid and up-to-date API keys, ensuring smooth continuous scrolling of the phone screen, accommodating movie thumbnails above and below a specific button, and linking multiple tabs within the app.

Accomplishments we're proud of: As a team consisting of a freshman, a sophomore, and a senior, we are proud to have traveled all the way from Lubbock to Austin to compete in HackTX, staying from the beginning to the end. We successfully submitted the project and debugged complex Swift code which is renowned as one of the toughest challenges in iOS development. Two out of our three team members submitted their very first hackathon project, and creating an iOS app as novices is a significant achievement. Our unwavering patience, passion, and enthusiasm greatly boosted our confidence.

What we learned: We gained valuable experience in cross-functional communication while working on different aspects of the project. Teamwork was crucial in successfully completing the project, and it required going above and beyond to achieve our goals. In terms of technical knowledge, we learned about iOS development, the Xcode environment, implementing and integrating libraries and APIs into the app, and creating a simple and user-friendly interface. We also encountered and overcame various technical challenges.

What's next for Chillax? In the future, we plan to implement an AI/ML model and incorporate advanced weather APIs into the app. This enhancement will allow the app to suggest movies based on the current weather and surrounding atmosphere, offering users a more personalized experience.