UNSTUCK

An AI-powered companion that helps overwhelmed minds prioritize tasks, take manageable steps, and build momentum—one action at a time.

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Inspiration

I wanted to build something for people who have a lot on their minds but struggle to figure out where to start.

I think a lot of people know that feeling when you have so many things to do that you end up doing nothing, even though you know you should be doing something. This can be especially difficult for students, neurodivergent people, or anyone who struggles with executive functioning.

What I noticed is that most productivity apps expect you to already know what you need to do. You have to create tasks, organize them, set priorities, and make a plan. But what if that's exactly what you're struggling with?

That's where the idea for UNSTUCK came from. I wanted something that doesn't give you even more things to think about, but actually helps you figure out your next step.

What it does

UNSTUCK is an AI-powered application that helps you decide what to focus on and how to get started.

You can basically write down everything that's on your mind without having to organize it first.

I also added voice input because I think when someone is already overwhelmed, even typing everything out can feel like another task. Sometimes it's just easier to talk.

UNSTUCK uses Google's Gemini AI to look at what you've shared and identify what might be most important based on things like deadlines, urgency, and importance.

Instead of giving you a long to-do list, it explains what you should focus on and suggests one small action you can actually do.

There's also a short focus timer that you can pause, resume, or reset. I wanted it to feel flexible rather than like another deadline.

Once you've completed a step, you can continue to the next one. UNSTUCK remembers what you've already done during that session, so you don't have to explain everything again.

How we built it

I built UNSTUCK using Python and FastAPI for the backend, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the interface, and Google's Gemini API for the AI features.

For voice input, I used the browser's speech recognition functionality.

I used Codex to help with coding, debugging, and testing, and followed the Devpost Learn Skill Pack to go through planning, defining requirements, building, and preparing the project.

I wanted to keep the application simple, so I didn't add accounts, databases, or complicated dashboards.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was getting the Gemini API to work reliably.

At first, requests were failing because of an issue with the structured output format. After fixing that, there were also times when Gemini was temporarily unavailable.

Because of this, I had to think about what should happen when something goes wrong. For example, if someone already received a recommendation and the next request fails, they shouldn't lose their progress.

Another challenge was figuring out how much functionality to include. I kept thinking of more things that could be useful, but I also didn't want UNSTUCK to become another complicated productivity app.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I'm especially happy that UNSTUCK doesn't just tell you how to start and then leave you there.

It can help you decide what matters, suggest a small action, guide you through a focus session, and then help you continue.

I'm also happy with how simple the interface is. I wanted it to feel calm and not like another place where you have a hundred tasks waiting for you.

What we learned

One thing this project reminded me of is how important it is to think about the actual experience of the person using an application, not just the features.

Something can technically work but still be frustrating or overwhelming to use.

I also got more experience with AI-assisted development, working with APIs, testing features, and handling errors.

Following the Devpost Learn Skill Pack helped me keep the project organized and focus on getting a working prototype finished.

What's next for UNSTUCK

In the future, I'd like to make UNSTUCK more personalized.

For example, I think it would be useful if it could consider someone's energy level, how they're feeling, or what kind of working style suits them.

I'd also like to explore how it could better support people who struggle with executive functioning, without making the application more complicated.

I don't want UNSTUCK to become another productivity app that makes people feel like they aren't doing enough.

I want it to make starting and continuing a little easier, even on days when everything feels overwhelming.

One step at a time.

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