StudyScope

GitHub Repository

Inspiration

As a student, I found myself constantly overwhelmed by 'feature-heavy' study apps that ended up being more distracting than helpful. I wanted to build something that felt like a 'digital sanctuary'—a tool that does one thing perfectly: helping students enter a flow state without the clutter of social features or complex settings.

What it does

StudyScope is a streamlined productivity companion for students. It provides a focused environment where users can manage their study sessions, track their immediate priorities, and maintain a 'Zen' aesthetic. It strips away the noise of traditional planners, focusing on a clean UI that encourages deep work and minimizes cognitive load during intense exam seasons.

How we built it

I built StudyScope using React Native and Expo to ensure a smooth, cross-platform experience. The UI was crafted using Flexbox and Native StyleSheets to maintain a minimalist look. I used Git for version control and hosted the source code on GitHub. The development process involved iterative prototyping to find the right balance between functionality and simplicity, focusing on core React hooks like useState to manage the app's internal logic. We locally ran the app on React's Expo Go app by downloading it on the IOS store and then offshoring it onto the app.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was definitely the layout and responsiveness. Getting the Flexbox dimensions to look consistent across different screen sizes was a huge learning curve. I also spent a significant amount of time wrestling with Git commands and terminal configurations to ensure my project structure was clean and professional. Debugging hidden file extensions and ensuring the .gitignore was working properly taught me a lot about the 'behind-the-scenes' of software development.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m incredibly proud of taking a concept from a blank screen to a fully functional GitHub repository. Successfully implementing a clean, responsive UI that looks professional on mobile is a major milestone for me. I’m also proud of overcoming the technical hurdles of setting up a proper development environment and mastering the command line to manage my code.

What we learned

This project was a deep dive into the React Native ecosystem. I learned how to structure a mobile app, the importance of clean documentation, and how to use Git effectively for versioning. Most importantly, I learned that 'less is more' in UX design—building a simple, working feature is much better than building five broken ones.

What's next for StudyScope

The next step for StudyScope is adding local notifications to remind students when their break is over. I’d also like to implement a 'History' tab so users can see their productivity trends over a week. Eventually, I want to explore better light/dark mode contrast toggles to help students who study late at night reduce eye strain.