Unify

💡Inspiration

Unify was inspired by the desire to promote cultural diversity and sustainability while creating a unique and engaging online marketplace focused on community building. The project reflects the belief that even though items may have different monetary values, their traditional and cultural value is always equal.

⚙️What it does

Unify is a cultural diversity-based web application that serves as a trading platform for individuals to showcase and exchange traditional products from their respective cultures.

• Users can upload their unique traditional items, browse others' collections, and express interest in trading.
• The platform's matching feature automatically matches users who are interested in each other's items.
• This provides an opportunity for individuals to connect with others and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures.
• Unify promotes cultural diversity and aims to bridge cultural gaps by providing a space for individuals to share their traditions and customs.

🛠️ How we built it

• We chose Next.js as the primary technology for the front-end development of the web application.
• We used Supabase as the backend platform to store and manage the application data in real-time, leveraging its real-time database capabilities to enable the matching feature.
• For the UI design and prototyping of the application, we used Figma, a collaborative design tool that allowed us to create and share design assets and collaborate seamlessly with the team.
• To style the application, we used Tailwind CSS, a utility-first CSS framework that enabled us to create custom styles easily and quickly.
• The application was built using TypeScript, which allowed us to catch errors during development and improve the overall maintainability and scalability of the codebase.
• We implemented the real-time database feature using Supabase's real-time subscription API, which allowed us to push data updates to clients in real time, creating a seamless user experience.

⚠️ Challenges we ran into

• We faced multiple challenges in the backend development, including real-time data fetching, auth state change, and matching user logic.
• Implementing Supabase RLS policies and NextJS layouts also presented challenges during the development process.
• We tackled these issues head-on and overcame them through collaboration and perseverance.

Ultimately, we were able to fix all of the challenges we encountered, resulting in a fully functional and efficient web application.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• We are proud of successfully implementing real-time data updates using Supabase <making the user experience more engaging and interactive.
• The matching algorithm we developed is also a significant accomplishment, as it required a lot of careful consideration and testing to ensure its accuracy.
• We are also proud of the user interface and design, which we developed using Figma and implemented using Tailwind CSS, resulting in a modern and visually appealing website.
• Our team collaboration and communication throughout the project were exceptional, and we are proud of the teamwork and dedication we exhibited.

What we learned

• Our experience building this project taught us a lot about working with NextJS, Supabase, and Zustand.
• We learned about the benefits of using NextJS 13, such as its improved performance and enhanced development experience.
• Developing a project with a cultural diversity focus helped us gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures and their unique traditions.
• We also gained experience in implementing real-time data updates using Supabase and Socket.io, which can be a valuable skill in many different web development projects.

What's next for Unify

• We plan to integrate Unify with a delivery system to make it easier for users to exchange their cultural items after a match has been made and both users have agreed to the trade.
• We also plan to implement a chat feature to allow users to communicate with each other and learn more about each other's cultures and traditions.
• Adding a blog page to the platform would also be a great way to share stories and insights about cultural diversity and help foster a sense of community among users.
• We also plan to continue iterating on the platform, making improvements, and adding new features to enhance the user experience and further promote cultural diversity and understanding.

Built With

• nextjs
• supabase
• tailwindcss
• twilio
• typescript
• zustand