Inspiration Puzzles are a timeless test of logic, famously used by GCHQ to recruit codebreakers for World War II. In today's fast-paced world, this profound hobby of deep thinking is fading. We built "Wits" to revive the art of puzzle-solving, creating a modern platform that recaptures the magic of a good challenge for a new generation.
What it does Wits is a full-stack MERN application where users can solve a variety of puzzles. The platform features a full user authentication system with password resets, a puzzle library filterable by difficulty and category, and an interactive solving page with timers and hints. Logged-in users get a personal dashboard to track their stats, while a secure admin panel allows for easy puzzle management.
How we built it Backend: A Node.js and Express.js API handles all business logic. Database: We used MongoDB Atlas for flexible and scalable data storage. Frontend: A dynamic and responsive single-page application built with React. Styling: The entire application was styled using Tailwind CSS for a modern, utility-first design. Deployment: The application is live on Render, serving both the frontend and backend from a single service.
Challenges we ran into The biggest challenge was the full-stack deployment process. Configuring the production environment required setting up a cloud database, managing DNS for a custom domain, and securely handling all secret keys. Implementing the secure "Forgot Password" feature, which involved sending emails with secure tokens, was also a complex undertaking that went beyond standard CRUD operations.
Accomplishments that we're proud of We are incredibly proud of creating a complete, end-to-end MERN stack application that is live on the web at a custom domain. Our biggest accomplishment is the secure and fully operational user authentication system, including the password reset flow. We successfully built not just a concept, but a working product that people can use right now.
What we learned This project provided invaluable hands-on experience in the entire lifecycle of a modern web application. We learned the critical importance of a secure development workflow, including managing secret keys with .gitignore and environment variables. We also gained practical skills in debugging live server crashes, configuring DNS, and deploying a full-stack application.
What's next for Wits puzzle website Our vision is to grow Wits into a competitive community hub for puzzle solvers.
Global Leaderboard: We plan to add a leaderboard where users can compete for rankings based on XP, puzzles solved, and speed. Puzzle Competitions: We want to host scheduled, time-based tournaments with unique puzzles and rewards to add an exciting, competitive layer to the platform.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.