Good Neighbor

Inspiration

Our project, "Good Neighbor," draws inspiration from the 311 reports provided by the City of Evanston. These reports highlight various community issues that residents encounter, ranging from potholes to park maintenance needs. We aim to streamline the process of addressing these issues by providing a user-friendly platform where residents can submit problems and allocate budgets for their resolution.

What it does

"Good Neighbor" is a web-based platform that facilitates collaboration between residents and service providers to address community issues. Residents can submit problems they encounter in their neighborhoods, such as potholes, snow removal, or park cleanups, along with a designated budget. Service providers, including local businesses and individual contractors, then have the opportunity to bid on these tasks, offering their services to solve the identified problems.

How we built it

We built "Good Neighbor" using React and Next.js for the frontend, leveraging their flexibility and efficiency in building interactive web applications. For the backend, we utilized SQLite for the database, designing the database schemas from scratch to accommodate the specific needs of our platform. Additionally, we implemented APIs with Next.js from scratch to handle data interaction between the frontend and the database. Throughout the development process, we ran the project locally to ensure seamless integration and functionality.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges we encountered was connecting the database to the server seamlessly. We had to troubleshoot issues related to data retrieval and storage, ensuring that information was accurately displayed and updated on the platform. Additionally, designing and implementing the database schemas from scratch required careful consideration and planning to ensure optimal performance and scalability.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're proud to have successfully developed a functional and user-friendly platform that addresses a real need within the community. From designing the database schemas to implementing APIs and integrating frontend and backend components, we overcame various technical challenges and worked collaboratively to bring our vision to life. Seeing our platform in action, connecting residents with service providers to address community issues, is incredibly rewarding.

What we learned

Throughout the development process, we gained valuable experience in frontend and backend technologies, including React, Next.js, SQLite, and API development. We also honed our problem-solving skills, learning how to troubleshoot technical issues and optimize performance. Additionally, we gained insight into the importance of user experience and interface design in creating intuitive and engaging web applications.

What's next for Good Neighbor

In the future, we aim to further enhance the functionality and accessibility of "Good Neighbor" by implementing additional features and refining existing ones based on user feedback. This may include integrating payment processing capabilities, expanding the range of community issues addressed on the platform, and exploring opportunities for scalability and expansion to other communities beyond Evanston.