KnightPool

A carpooling platform that connects students and coworkers for ridesharing, with schedule integration for convenience-based matching.

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KnightPool

Inspiration

The daily commute is a shared experience, yet it's often a solitary and inefficient one. We were inspired by the universal challenge of commuting and the potential for technology to transform it into a more connected, sustainable, and enjoyable experience. We envisioned a platform that could intelligently connect people with similar schedules and routes, fostering a sense of community while reducing traffic congestion and our collective carbon footprint. This vision, born from our own commuting frustrations, evolved into KnightPool, a comprehensive carpooling solution designed for the modern commuter.

What it does

KnightPool is a revolutionary carpooling platform that intelligently connects drivers and riders with overlapping schedules and routes. Our innovative features include:

  • Automatic Schedule Matching: Our smart algorithm analyzes users' schedules and locations to suggest the most compatible carpool partners, eliminating the hassle of manual coordination.
  • Seamless Ride Requests: With just a few clicks, users can request rides, view driver profiles, and receive real-time updates, making the entire process effortless and transparent.
  • Flexible Ride Offers: Drivers can easily offer rides, set their own schedules, and manage passenger requests through an intuitive and user-friendly interface.

How we built it

We built KnightPool with a powerful and scalable tech stack, ensuring a seamless and responsive user experience.

Front-End

  • Next.js & React: We chose Next.js for its server-side rendering capabilities, which provide a fast and SEO-friendly foundation, while React allowed us to build a dynamic and interactive user interface.
  • Tailwind CSS: For styling, we utilized Tailwind CSS, a utility-first framework that enabled us to rapidly design a modern and visually appealing interface.
  • TypeScript: To ensure code quality and maintainability, we used TypeScript, which adds static typing to JavaScript and helps catch errors early in the development process.

Back-End

  • ** Next.js **: Handles routing and provides built-in API routes, allowing seamless integration between the front-end and back-end.
  • NextAuth.js: We used NextAuth.js for secure and flexible authentication, enabling features like credential-based login and third-party OAuth providers while integrating seamlessly with Next.js.
  • Node.js & Express: Our back-end is powered by Node.js and Express, providing a robust and scalable foundation for our API.
  • MongoDB: We chose MongoDB as our database for its flexibility and ability to handle complex data structures, which is essential for managing user profiles, schedules, and ride requests.
  • Mongoose: To interact with our MongoDB database, we used Mongoose, an elegant and powerful object data modeling (ODM) library that simplifies data validation and business logic.

Integrations

  • Google Maps API: At the core of our platform is the Google Maps API, which we use for location services, route planning, and real-time traffic updates.
  • Google Gemini API: To enhance our user experience, we integrated the Google Gemini API, which allows users to upload a screenshot of their schedule and have it automatically parsed and imported into the app.

Challenges we ran into

Building KnightPool was not without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles we faced was designing and implementing the schedule-matching algorithm. It required us to develop a sophisticated system that could accurately compare users' schedules and locations while accounting for variables like traffic, route deviations, and user preferences. We also encountered challenges with integrating the Google Maps API, particularly with optimizing its performance and ensuring a seamless user experience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished with KnightPool. We have successfully built a fully functional carpooling platform that is not only user-friendly but also has the potential to make a real impact on people's lives. We are particularly proud of our innovative schedule-matching algorithm, which we believe is a game-changer in the carpooling space. We are also proud of our intuitive and visually appealing user interface, which we believe will make the carpooling experience more enjoyable for everyone.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we learned a great deal about software development, from front-end design to back-end architecture. We gained valuable experience with a wide range of technologies, including Next.js, React, Node.js, and MongoDB. We also learned the importance of collaboration, communication, and perseverance in the face of challenges. This hackathon has been an incredible learning experience, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.

What's next for KnightPool

We believe that KnightPool has the potential to revolutionize the way people commute. Our vision is to create a global community of carpoolers who are passionate about making a positive impact on the environment and their communities. In the future, we plan to expand our platform to include new features such as real-time ride tracking, in-app payments, and social networking features. We are excited about the future of KnightPool and the positive impact it will have on the world.

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