Borrowed

Borrowed Home Page + New Post
Borrowed Login Page
Borrowed Borrow Page
Borrowed Sell Page
Borrowed Messages Page
Borrowed Profile Page
Borrowed Sell Item Window
Borrowed Notifications Tab
Borrowed New Post [Sell]

Inspiration

We've all been there… halfway through cooking a recipe and realizing we need an ingredient we don't have. Do we really want to stop everything and go buy a whole container of something we'll use once? Probably not. But knocking on a neighbor's door feels awkward in this day and age. Borrowed bridges that gap by giving people a simple, structured way to borrow what they need from people right in their own community, no awkwardness, no waste, no unnecessary trips to the store.

What it does

Borrowed is a community web app that allows users to lend or exchange goods and services. When the user logs in, they will be directed to their feed, which contains general posts regarding the community. The user can switch to either the "Borrow" tab - which contains requests to borrow ingredients, tools, etc. - or the "Sell" tab - which shows clothes, furniture, services, etc. for sale. The user can post in the home feed, Borrow page, or Sell page. They can also message users from the posts using the app's messaging feature. The "Profile" page allows the user to edit their bio, password, and notification preferences. There is also a tab called "My Pantry" where users can input what they have/are willing to share and the app will notify them (only the person who owns the item) when they have a match with a post.

How we built it

Frontend: HTML/ CSS, Javascript, Typescript Next.js, MUI, Tailwind

Backend: Python Flask, SQLAlchemy

Challenges we ran into

Connecting the frontend and backend gave us some challenges at first. We also had some trouble with merge conflicts.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Building a community app with user accounts, a disappearing feed, messages, and notifications - all in one weekend.

What we learned

We learned how to integrate Next.js and MUI to develop a user interface for an app. By working on this project, we've gained a deeper understanding of how popular apps like Nextdoor and even Facebook work.

What's next for Borrowed

Safety was a top priority when we created this webapp. To build on that foundation, we’re looking to add enhanced security features, such as ID verification. By limiting anonymity, we want to ensure people are held accountable for their actions and feel protected within their community. Our goal is to keep everyone safe while still bringing people closer together, fostering the kind of trust that makes a community thrive.