TheBridgeApp

Inspiration

As a freshman, I check TheBridge often for latest events and new student organizations I haven't heard of yet. However, there was no convenient way (i.e. a mobile app) for me to access these information other than to use a web browser. To make my and others life easier, I decided to build TheBridgeApp

What it does

It takes first 15 upcoming events in time order and display them in a tableview to the user, which the user can click to access actual CMU TheBridge website about that event. Same concept for organizations, which displays organizations in alphabetical order. These results are also shown in a tableview, which the user can click to access its website.

How I built it

I built the app using Swift on XCode. I used Kanna for parsing XML/HTML data web scraped from CMU TheBridge website. With the parsed data, I searched, filtered, and rearranged them to be displayed in the manner I wanted and manipulated them to make links from tableview work.

Challenges I ran into

It was my first time web scraping a website running javascript, which meant the data was dynamic. Completely different approach was required of me to adapt to the different condition, and parsing very complicated and large HTML file like that of CMU TheBridge was a very time-consuming challenge itself as well.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I'm proud of the fact that I managed to web scrape a dynamic website and parse it into a presentable format by myself within the time limit.

What I learned

• How to web scrape a dynamic website
• How to parse complex HTML files
• I can make an app from scratch to presentable completion within 24 hours

What's next for TheBridgeApp

Implement filter and search functionality.

Built With

• kanna
• swift