Make it SMART | Devpost

Make it S.M.A.R.T. App by Deryn, Stanley, Michelda

Inspiration

The inspiration behind Make It SMART stemmed from our observation of the productivity struggles faced by Generation Z, especially post-quarantine. Social media and the constant need for instant gratification have made it increasingly difficult for young adults and students to stay focused on their goals. One of our team members participated in an accountability group and saw firsthand how shared support can lead to personal success. This inspired us to create an app that not only helps users break down their goals but also fosters a community where people can motivate and hold each other accountable.

What It Does

Make It SMART is an accountability app that transforms user goals into actionable SMART steps with the help of AI. Users input their goal, and the app provides a personalized, step-by-step plan, making even the largest tasks more approachable. The app also includes a social community feature, allowing users to track each other’s progress, celebrate small wins, and stay motivated through mutual support. In short, it’s a platform that combines goal setting with instant gratification to encourage consistent progress.

How We Built It

We built Make It SMART using a cross-platform development tool called Thunkable, which allowed us to create both iOS and Android versions of the app. The AI integration was achieved using the OpenAI API, enabling the app to break down user goals into manageable tasks. We also used Firebase for real-time data storage and Airtable to manage and track user goals. The app’s design and mockups were created in Adobe XD, and we implemented OAuth for secure user authentication.

Challenges We Ran Into

One of the primary challenges was integrating the AI in a way that felt seamless and intuitive to users. We wanted the goal-setting process to be simple and effective, which required a deep dive into the OpenAI API and its capabilities. Additionally, debugging was tough, especially when we encountered platform inconsistencies during testing. At one point, we even lost our code, forcing us to rebuild and persevere. Despite these challenges, we pushed forward and managed to create something functional.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

We’re incredibly proud of the fact that we have a working prototype that we can demo to users and judges alike. Seeing our vision come to life is a huge achievement, and we’re particularly excited about the app’s loading screen, which adds a polished and professional touch to the user experience. It’s these small details that make the app feel complete and functional.

What We Learned

Through this experience, we learned that projects with a meaningful impact are not only more rewarding but also easier to develop. The focus on functionality allowed us to prioritize what truly matters and produce an app that serves a real purpose. We also realized that software is never truly finished. Given the constraints of a hackathon, we focused on building a solid prototype, knowing that there will always be room for improvement after the presentation.

What's Next for Make It SMART

Moving forward, we will focus on enhancing the community aspect of the app. We believe that connecting people with similar goals or offering support to those who need extra motivation can transform how we approach productivity and accountability. The potential to bring people together from across the world through shared goals and personal growth is immense, and we are excited to continue developing this feature. Our vision is to build a platform that fosters productivity, accountability, and success for all users, no matter where they are in life.