HeelSync

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Inspiration: Starting college can be isolating, especially in large lecture halls. We wanted to make it easier for UNC students to find classmates to study and connect with. That idea became Heelsync - a simple, community-focused app that turns classes into connections.

What it does: Heelsync matches students in the same courses based on their availability, study preferences, and bios. Users can:
Create short bios with their major and interests
Match with classmates who share their schedule
Pick campus meeting spots
Form or join study groups that fit their time
Buy and sell their used textbooks for cheap

How we built it: We built Heelsync using Swift and SwiftUI in Xcode for iOS. The interface is simple, intuitive, and designed for easy navigation on mobile devices.

Challenges we ran into: As beginners, learning SwiftUI, managing state, and integrating APIs within Apple’s ecosystem were big hurdles. We also struggled to design responsive layouts and manage time across coding, testing, and presenting.

Accomplishments that we're proud of: We built a working iOS prototype in one weekend and designed a clean UI from scratch. Most importantly, we created something that helps students feel more connected.

What we learned: We are now well-versed in the fundamentals of mobile app development with SwiftUI, with skills like how to debug and iterate quickly as a team, and the importance of designing for usability and community.

What's next for Heelsync:
Add AI study chat for class help
Integrate UNC tutoring and event schedules
Develop Android and web versions
Partner with campus organizations to expand Heelsync

Heelsync started at HackNC - but it’s built to keep Tar Heels connected far beyond it.