Inspiration
We spend a huge part of our lives studying, yet sometimes staying focused can be incredibly challenging. Students find all ways to combat this, like using study apps, or even virtual group studying, which has been gaining popularity since covid-19.
Two of the few most famous apps for studying are namely, Discord, which students frequently use to hold each other accountable via video calling during their study session. And Forest, which encourages focus by limiting phone use, you can’t use other apps while forest is on.
However, as students ourselves, we feel that these apps aren’t perfect.
That’s why we created StudySync—an app that bridges the gap, combining the best aspects of these successful platforms into one.
What it does
In StudySync, each user is represented by their own character. Users can open a room and invite their friends to join for a set study session time. Inside the virtual room, users can move their characters around, interact with what's in the room, and also each other. When using the app, the user will guide their character to reflect their current tasks, and users would be able to see what their friends are doing in real-time. We also included a feature where users can nudge with each other to keep each other accountable.
How we built it
We developed StudySync using the Flutter framework, we used sprites for animations, and Firebase for real-time backend support. The visuals were created using a mix of online images and Canva.
Challenges we ran into
This was our first time working with Firebase as a backend server, which came with a learning curve!
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Developing a fully functional multiplayer app that syncs across devices in real-time. On top of that, we’re proud of creating a visually appealing and engaging user experience.
What we learned
It is hard to sum it up, but we learn so much in this process. Key takeaways include working with the Flame engine, setting up Firebase, creating and managing sprites as well as UI design.
What's next for StudySync
We can allow users to design their own avatar, and add a touch of personalisation. We can build larger rooms to facilitate more people, and eventually adding a community feature, which people of the same interests can join a study room, and make new friends.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.