Over the past week, I built a small project:
👉 https://ships.aihare.in/
It’s a simple, real-time ship-tracking tool with a focus on clean UI and speed.
Why I built this
While exploring existing marine traffic tools, I noticed a common pattern:
- cluttered interfaces
- slow performance
- too many controls for simple use cases
I wanted to see if I could build something simpler — a tool where you can just open the map and start tracking ships instantly.
What the app does
- Track ships live on a global map
- Monitor vessel movement in real time
- Explore marine traffic visually
The goal was not to build a feature-heavy platform, but something fast and intuitive.
What I focused on
1. Minimal UI
I intentionally avoided overloading the interface.
- Map-first design
- Lightweight side panels
- Only essential controls
2. Performance
Real-time tracking needs to feel instant.
- Reduced unnecessary re-renders
- Optimized data loading
- Kept the UI responsive even with live updates
3. User flow
The experience should feel obvious:
- Open → see ships → interact
No onboarding, no friction.
Challenges I faced
Balancing UI simplicity vs functionality
It’s easy to add features, but harder to keep things clean.
Handling real-time data
Ensuring updates don’t slow down the interface required careful structuring.
Layout decisions
Keeping the map dominant while still fitting filters, stats, and info panels took a few iterations.
What I’d improve next
- Better search (by ship name, route, etc.)
- Alerts/notifications for specific vessels
- More insights around shipping patterns
- Mobile optimization improvements
Would love your feedback
If you have a minute, check it out:
👉 https://ships.aihare.in/
I’d really appreciate feedback on:
- UI/UX (is it actually simpler?)
- performance
- anything confusing or missing
Building small projects like this has been a great way to experiment and learn quickly.
Curious — has anyone here worked on real-time map-based apps? Would love to hear your experience.
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