StudyPlanner

Inspiration

As university students, we are all too familiar with the challenge of intending to take a brief 15-20 minute break after a long day, only to find ourselves immersed in distractions for hours. StudyPlanner addresses this issue.

What it does

StudyPlanner monitors your Google Calendar for scheduled study sessions identified by the keyword 'Study'. If you deviate from your study plan by engaging in distractions, such as playing games on the Steam platform, the program prompts you, reminding you to refocus on your studies.

How we built it

We developed the program using Python and integrated the Google Calendar API to track designated study times. Additionally, we utilized the Steamworks API to monitor your status on the Steam game launcher. When the program detects game activity during study hours, it sends a notification to encourage you to return to your studies.

Challenges we ran into

Navigating the capabilities of the APIs proved challenging, requiring extensive research. Throughout the hackathon, we faced the task of adapting our original idea based on our evolving understanding of the APIs. Additionally, we intended to use .Net with the C# language but the APIs we were planning to use were unsupported, causing use to backtrack.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Despite the time constraints and the steep learning curve associated with new APIs, we successfully delivered a functional project. This experience allowed us to thrive under pressure and broaden our knowledge of incorporating APIs into projects.

What we learned

Our journey involved not only mastering the integration of APIs into a program but also exploring different avenues to complete the project. Experimenting with languages like .Net and C#, even if not ultimately used, provided valuable insights into less familiar technologies.

What's next for StudyPlanner

In the future, we envision an improved user interface for StudyPlanner, recognizing its current limitations in a professional setting. Additionally, expanding the scope of StudyPlanner by incorporating APIs such as Riot API and Epic Online Services API will enhance its capabilities, allowing us to monitor popular games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Valorant.