DEV Community: Eron

After the Hack: What Comes Next When the Build is Just the Beginning

Eron — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 05:57:58 +0000

The World's Largest Hackathon started with a single prompt—and ended up reshaping the way I think about building.

I didn’t go in expecting life-changing revelations. I went in expecting a fun challenge, a few late nights, and maybe a cool demo by the end. But what I got was a deeper connection to the why behind my work.

🔁 Iteration Over Perfection

My project didn’t launch with a bang. It didn’t go viral or catch investor attention. But what it did do was remind me that finishing something is a win in itself.

Throughout the hackathon, I learned to:

Ship fast, and polish later
Turn vague ideas into usable tools with Bolt.new
Design for simplicity, not complexity

🧰 Skills Sharpened

Using Bolt.new as my foundation taught me a lot about building smart—not hard. I explored:

Prompt engineering for logic flows and interfaces
Rapid prototyping with AI as a partner
Structuring apps with modular, testable components

I got better at thinking like a builder who respects both time and user attention. That’s a lesson I’m carrying forward.

🚀 What’s Next?

The hackathon might be over, but the app is far from done. I’m not continuing development or slowly shaping it into something more polished and ready for real-world use. I'm using it as a stepping stone into something bigger because now i have learnt how to build and not just to build for building but to build with purpose.

And I’m planning future builds with the same lean, idea-first approach I practiced here. Small, useful, and real.

💡 The Real Takeaway

This hackathon taught me that momentum matters more than medals. That building fast is a skill. That the act of creating something out of nothing still feels like magic, every time.

And that sometimes, showing up, building something honest, and hitting "Submit" is the real win.

See you at the next hack. ✌️

Beyond the Code: What the World's Largest Hackathon Taught Me About People

Eron — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 05:49:23 +0000

When I signed up for the World's Largest Hackathon, I expected late nights, last-minute bugs, and a rollercoaster of caffeine-fueled coding sessions. What I didn’t expect was how human the experience would be.

🧠 Building Solo, But Never Alone

Although I built my project entirely solo, I never felt like I was working in a vacuum. The global energy during the hackathon was contagious. Whether it was reading through other builders’ updates or catching the AMA replays, there was always something to keep me motivated.

Even in moments of silence, I felt connected.

🍦 IRL Connections & Cookies

I had the chance to attend a local satellite event in Lagos—a gaming room turned hacker den for the weekend. The LED lights were glowing, keyboards clicking, and the vibe? Somewhere between “startup garage” and “LAN party.”

We passed around cookies and ice cream, exchanged stories, and celebrated small wins like fixing stubborn bugs or finally nailing down an AI prompt. It was low-key, but that shared atmosphere of creation made it unforgettable.

🙌 People Who Made the Journey Matter

Bolt Team – for making app development feel like alchemy. The way I could scaffold a backend and logic with simple prompts changed everything.
Eric Simons & Greg Isenberg’s AMA – raw, honest, and incredibly grounding. A reminder that every big build started as a rough sketch.
Discord Community – while I didn’t reach out for help directly, just seeing the energy, memes, builds, and support from fellow builders gave me the push I needed.

🧭 More Than Just a Build

Yes, I shipped something I’m proud of. But the real win wasn’t the product—it was the experience. The community, the chance encounters, and the late-night moments when I remembered why I love to build in the first place.

If you’re thinking about joining the next hackathon: do it. Even solo, you won’t be alone. The code may be yours, but the momentum is shared.

Huge thanks to everyone who made this journey unforgettable. Catch you in the next build. 🚀

Axero Frontend Challenge: Building a Dynamic Office Intranet Interface

Eron — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 05:30:51 +0000

✨ My Intranet Homepage for the Axero Frontend Challenge

This is a submission for Frontend Challenge: Office Edition sponsored by Axero, Office Space

🚀 What I Built

I designed a modern, responsive intranet homepage using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript only — no frameworks, libraries, or plugins. The goal was to build a minimalist styled digital workspace that combines aesthetics and utility with minor distractions or cluster in the UI.

Key Features:

🔍 A global search bar for quick access to internal content
👥 A Team Spotlight carousel with realistic avatars
📰 A live Company News Feed widget
📅 A clean Events Panel for upcoming meetings
🌘 A Dark/Light Mode Toggle with adaptive colors and hover effects
🧊 A Tile Carousel Layout where one tile is always front-and-center

🔗 Demo

Here’s a live demo of my project:

https://codepen.io/Priest-Karibo/pen/dPYpJVG

🛠️ Journey

This project was all about creating a realistic intranet that feels welcoming, functional, and inspiring.

What I Learned:

How to implement a focus-centered tile slider using JavaScript
How to dynamically style components based on light/dark theme toggles
Importance of semantic layout and smooth user interactions
Leveraging tools like Pravatar.cc for realistic placeholder avatars

Design Philosophy:

Clean first impression with a minimal layout
Information hierarchy to prioritize what employees need daily
Theme flexibility to respect user visual preference

👨‍💻 Built With

HTML5
CSS3 (Flexbox, Grid, Transitions)
JavaScript
Pravatar.cc for avatars

👥 Team Credits

Solo submission by Priest Karibo

From Code to Prompt: How Bolt.new Revolutionized My App Development Journey

Eron — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:01:25 +0000

For years, I approached development the traditional way which was to research, write code, research, debug and manually wire up frontend to backend. But with bolt.new. I'll share how I transitioned from conventional coding to AI-powered prompt development, the challenges and why prompt coding is the future of building.

What I Built
Over the past few weeks, I've built several full featured applications using Bolt.new which are:
.ExplainMyBooks: An AI financial document explainer for freelancers and small businesses.
.TrackDot: A real-time delivery tracking web app
.Upseller: A natural language driven upsell rule for Shopify stores.
.SwipeJobs: A Tinder like job matching app with AI generated applications.
Each of these projects started from a single idea and within hours, I had working prototypes, functional interfaces and business logic generated through prompts although none of these web apps have been released to the public, marketing isn't my strong suite yet.

The Shift
Bolt.new flipped my old process on its head. Instead of typing, rewriting and typing out JSX, routes, database schemas or API handlers, I started writing clear prompts and suddenly i wasn't worrying about syntax or connecting libraries, i became focused on user experience and product logic

Sponsor & Development Challenges
Even with prompt coding, challenges still arise like:
.Authentication Flows: bolt can handle basic auth, but OAuth and tiered user roles require extra clarification in prompts and manual connection
.Third party API: Most of the time, i had to refine prompts to include nuanced behaviour.

How AI changed My Development Forever
Bolt.new made me:
.Faster: Going from ideation to MVP in hours, not weeks is wild.
.Creative: I'm testing more ideas without worrying about time wasted.
.Product Focused: I think in terms of outcomes, not files and folders.

Final Thoughts
AI development isn't just the future, apparently it's now, prompts are power and we should all leverage it.

SnapSkill – Track what you learn, one snap at a time

Eron — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:15:06 +0000

Absolutely! Here's a long-form, curated Devpost project writeup for SnapSkill, formatted in Markdown so it’s ready to post directly on Devpost:

📸 SnapSkill – Track what you learn, one snap at a time

🚀 Inspiration

Most learning tools focus on what you know — quizzes, achievements, certificates.
But what about how you got there?

We’re constantly picking up new skills, tricks, ideas — but we forget the steps.
SnapSkill was born from the need to capture learning as it happens.
Like a private, minimalist journal for your brain.

I wanted something super lightweight:

No login required.
No distractions.
Just hit “Snap” and move on with your day.

💡 What it does

SnapSkill lets you log what you learn daily — using:

📷 A quick photo
📝 A short note
🎙️ A voice clip (planned for v2)

It builds a visual timeline of your growth — ideal for creators, coders, students, and professionals who love to learn and reflect.

Think of it like:

✨ TikTok shows the world what you know.
📚 SnapSkill helps you track how you got there.

🛠️ How we built it

SnapSkill was built in under 24 hours using:

🧠 Bolt.new — AI-assisted app builder for fast full-stack prototyping
🎨 Tailwind CSS — For clean, fast, mobile-first design
☁️ Netlify — For seamless deployment & hosting
📨 Formspree — For collecting user reviews and feedback
🔐 (Future) Supabase — For user auth and data syncing
🔊 (Planned) Web Audio API — For voice logs

⚔️ Challenges we ran into

Designing a minimalist experience that still felt sticky
Handling media logs without requiring a backend (initially used localStorage)
Balancing fun vs. focus in UI decisions
Making something valuable with only one core feature

🏆 Accomplishments we're proud of

✅ Built a working MVP in less than a day
✅ Designed a clean, engaging UI
✅ Wrote a compelling landing page with visual story
✅ Gained interest from early testers who asked for a mobile version
✅ It feels addictive, in a good way

📚 What we learned

Tiny features + clear value = better user habits
UI psychology matters. Animation, tone, whitespace — everything.
Users love tools that celebrate progress, not performance
Product storytelling is 50% of the launch
AI-assisted dev flows (like Bolt.new) are game changers for solo hackers

🔮 What’s next for SnapSkill

🌍 Supabase integration to sync across devices
🧠 Smart reminders to log a snap daily
🗂️ Public portfolios for learners who want to share
📲 A Chrome extension and mobile version
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A private community for “learning out loud”
✨ Voice note support, tags, search & exports

🧪 Try SnapSkill Now

📍 Live App: https://snapskill.netlify.app

No signup. No pressure. Just capture your growth.

💬 Want to leave feedback?
You can drop a review via this form:
👉 https://formspree.io/f/mvgrlgja

🙏 Shoutouts

🛠️ Bolt.new for making indie dev fast
🎨 LottieFiles for playful animations
🌐 Netlify for being stupidly easy to deploy to
💬 Every early user who shared thoughts and kind words

Juneteenth Tribute Landing Page

Eron — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 05:37:05 +0000

This is a submission for Frontend Challenge - June Celebrations, Perfect Landing: June Celebrations

What I Built

What i built is a landing page to highlight Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. This holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
My landing page is designed as a digital tribute to Juneteenth. It blends bold visuals, educational content, and calls to action that invite visitors to learn, reflect, and engage. I wanted to create something respectful, informative, and empowering—an experience that honors Black history while encouraging ongoing awareness and celebration.

Demo

https://juneteenth.netlify.app/
Journey
I started this project with a clear goal: to create a respectful and impactful digital space that educates people about Juneteenth. I began with research to ensure historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity, then focused on creating a layout that feels both solemn and celebratory.
I opted for a bold hero section with a historical photo backdrop to immediately convey emotional weight. From there, I used clean typography, clear structure, and a strong color palette (deep reds, greens, and golds) that echoes Pan-African and Juneteenth symbolism.
🧠 What I Learned
Simplicity in layout can amplify a message when content and colors are intentional.
Balancing visual design with accessibility is essential for commemorative work.
Writing for education requires empathy—this wasn't just code, it was storytelling.
💡 What I'm Proud Of
Creating a page that both honors the past and encourages future action.
Keeping the page lightweight, responsive, and completely free of frameworks.
Including links and suggestions that help turn awareness into engagement.
🚀 What’s Next
I’d like to expand this into a full microsite with interactive stories, oral history audio clips, and an event calendar.
I also want to adapt this page as a reusable template for other cultural or awareness celebrations throughout the year.

I Built a Real-Time Delivery Tracker Using Supabase + GPS

Eron — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 21:16:45 +0000

🚀 I Built a Real-Time Delivery Tracker in 2 Hours Using Supabase + GPS
🧠 Why I Built It

I live in Nigeria, where delivery is a daily hustle — from dispatch riders to food couriers to friends running errands. One constant?

“Where are you?”

I wanted a dead-simple tool that let riders share their live location without installing an app or creating an account. So I built Trackpilot — a one-feature app where you just create a delivery and send a link.

🛠️ Tech Stack

Supabase: Database + Realtime + Row-level security

React + Vite: Fast frontend scaffold

Tailwind CSS: Styling on turbo mode

Geolocation API: To get rider location

- Supabase Realtime + Row Update: For live map updates

⚙️ How It Works

Rider creates a delivery with name/location
App generates a public /track/:id link
GPS updates are pushed to Supabase every 5 seconds
Viewer sees the rider move live on a map (Leaflet.js)

No backend server. No login system. No Firebase spaghetti.

Just browser → Supabase → map.

💡 What Makes Trackpilot Different

No install needed — just a shareable URL
Built for emerging markets (low data, low device spec)

* Instant UX, MVP mindset, and local relevance

🙌 Try It
[https://trackpilot.netlify.app]
It’s free, open, and perfect for riders, couriers, or side hustlers.

Built an AI-powered Shopify app that lets merchants create upsell rules using natural language

Eron — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 23:03:38 +0000

Hey DEV community
I recently launched a new side project called Upseller — it's a Shopify app that lets merchants create upsell rules using plain English, no coding or complex UI needed.
The Idea
Shopify store owners often struggle with setting up upsells because of bloated dashboards or technical complexity. So I thought:
What if they could just type:
“If someone buys a coffee machine, offer them a bag of beans at 10% off.”
And the app would parse that sentence and automatically create the upsell logic behind the scenes?
That’s Upseller — a natural language interface for building Shopify upsells.
You can check out the landing page and join the waitlist here 👉 [https://upsell-landing-page.vercel.app/]
💬 Why I'm sharing this here:
I’d love your feedback on:
The concept (is natural language really better UX?)
Other use cases for this type of interface
Dev advice on scaling or refining the NLP layer
If you're working on something similar or curious about AI interfaces in eCommerce, let’s connect