Inspiration
Finding free time in our busy schedules is rare, but when we do, we often fall into the same routine—grabbing food, hanging out in the dorm, or aimlessly wandering downtown for the millionth time. We realized there wasn’t a dedicated or easily accessible platform for discovering new things to do. To fill that gap, we created Charlet's Explore!
What it does
Charlet’s Explore! connects students and residents of Charlottesville, helping them share and discover hidden gems across the city. Users can create an account to post about their favorite activities—whether it's playing spike ball at Ohill or attending poetry nights at Marie Bette.
Once users find an event they’re interested in, they can add it to their Itinerary, which provides directions using both the UVA and CAT bus systems—something existing apps like TransLoc don’t offer.
How we built it
Flask for the backend Static HTML and a custom CSS framework for the frontend SQLite to store user-generated posts
Challenges we ran into
Initially, we implemented live bus tracking and routing, but without accessible API endpoints, we had to rely on constant web scraping, which caused reliability issues. To solve this, we researched bus routes ourselves and designed a system that suggests the best buses based on connectivity and accessibility.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
One of our biggest technical achievements was integrating our database with the frontend. Through trial and error, we streamlined the process and automated data handling. We also experimented with different ways to structure user posts, ultimately landing on a combination of a database and object-oriented design.
What we learned
We learned how to scale a project effectively and approach app development from a systems design perspective rather than focusing on individual features in isolation. Taking the time to architect the entire app upfront saved us time and ensured a more cohesive final product
What's next for Charlet's Explore!
Live Route Tracking: We plan to collaborate with the University and the City to add real-time bus tracking, potentially creating API endpoints to make this data easily accessible.
UVA NetBadge Integration: By integrating NetBadge authentication, we can offer UVA-exclusive events and experiences tailored specifically for students.
AI-Enhanced Search: Users could search in natural language, like "I'm bored and want to do something athletic," and receive personalized event recommendations based on their interests.
Expanded Coverage: Currently focused on Charlottesville, we aim to scale the platform to include more locations and activities across a wider area.
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