Tikgu - Tap In, Tech Guru Within

Tikgu uses AI to simplify tech purchases — just answer a few questions and get personalized gadget picks, real-time prices, and nearby stores. No jargon, no stress. Tech made tick-simple.

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🚀 About Tikgu

💡 Inspiration

Tikgu was born from a simple observation: choosing tech gadgets is hard — especially if you're not tech-savvy. Whether it’s a student buying their first laptop or a senior looking for an easy-to-use phone, the overwhelming specs, endless options, and unclear pricing make it stressful and confusing.

We wanted to build something that feels like a smart, patient friend — someone who gets what you need and gives you clear, personalized advice, without any jargon.

🧠 What I Learned

Working on Tikgu taught me how to:

  • Use Perplexity’s Sonar API to generate accurate, explainable AI-powered recommendations.
  • Build a real-time backend with Supabase, including auth, user data storage, and edge functions.
  • Create a smooth frontend experience in React that feels fast and intuitive for all users.
  • Balance AI responses with human-friendly explanations, making tech feel approachable.

Most importantly, I learned how powerful AI can be when used to solve real-world problems — not just answer questions, but guide decisions.

⚙️ How I Built It

Tikgu is built with:

  • Frontend: React + Tailwind CSS for a responsive, accessible UI
  • Backend: Supabase for authentication, database, and edge functions
  • AI Engine: Perplexity’s Sonar API for gadget comparisons and plain-language explanations
  • Extras: Google Maps API integration for local store suggestions

Key Workflow:

  1. User answers a few simple questions (budget, use case, location).
  2. Frontend sends this data to a Supabase Edge Function.
  3. The function securely calls Perplexity’s API to get gadget suggestions.
  4. Results are returned and displayed with clear explanations and store locations.

⚠️ Challenges Faced

  • Making sure the AI gives accurate, localized results across different regions and budgets.
  • Ensuring plain-language explanations are actually helpful — not just simplified.
  • Handling rate limits and caching efficiently using Supabase Storage.
  • Designing an interface that works well for both young and older users.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Tikgu isn’t just about recommending gadgets — it’s about making tech feel less intimidating. Whether you're new to tech or just tired of doing research, Tikgu helps you make confident choices — fast.

Built With

  • google-maps
  • perplexity
  • perplexity-ai-(sonar-api)
  • supabase
  • tailwind-css
  • tikgu-was-built-with-react
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