BitTweet

BitTweet is a Django-based web application inspired by the early days of Twitter (circa 2006) and the aesthetic of 1980s/1990s computing.

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Inspiration

BitTweet was inspired by the charm of early Twitter (2006 era) and the nostalgia of 80s/90s computing interfaces—complete with pixelated fonts, green CRT-style UI, and minimal design. We wanted to recreate the feel of a time when the internet felt simpler, slower, and more personal.

What it does

BitTweet is a nostalgic microblogging platform where users can: Register/Login securely Post tweets (max 140 characters) with optional mood tags like Happy, Sad, or Nostalgic Edit/Delete tweets from their timeline Experience a retro CRT-style interface complete with scanlines, pixel fonts, and a terminal aesthetic

How we built it

Backend: Django (Python), Django Auth for secure user handling, SQLite for data persistence Frontend: HTML, CSS, and Vanilla JavaScript Styling: Custom CSS for a retro terminal look—monospace pixel fonts, green-on-black color scheme, and flicker effects File Management: Static/media file handling via Django Deployment: Work-in-progress deployment to Vercel using Serverless functions

Challenges we ran into

Integrating user authentication cleanly with a retro UI Handling Django deployment to Vercel and resolving 500/404 errors Ensuring media and static file management works on both local and serverless environments Designing a UI that feels nostalgic but is still functional and accessible

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Recreated the essence of early Twitter in a custom-designed retro interface Implemented full tweet CRUD functionality with login protection Used Django effectively to manage backend logic, models, and views with abstraction Clean and themed UI that actually feels like something from an old machine

What we learned

Django authentication and view management How to abstract logic cleanly into reusable components and views Managing file uploads and media storage in Django Troubleshooting serverless deployment with Django Pixel-perfect CSS styling for retro themes

What's next for BitTweet

Add profile customization (bio, profile picture)
 Real-time tweet updates using Django Channels or WebSockets
 Add retro sound effects on tweeting or login
Host on production-level server like Railway or Fly.io instead of Vercel
Add AI-generated "nostalgic tweet suggestions"

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