Faisal Mujawar
Back to blog
•
4 min read
Coding Competition

My Journey at the CodeX Competition

From February 1 to February 8, 2022, I had the remarkable opportunity to participate in the CodeX Competition. This event was more than just a test of my coding skills; it was a learning experience that pushed me to innovate and collaborate with fellow enthusiasts. One of the highlights of my participation was developing Petsbook, a Facebook clone specifically designed for pets.

The Event

The CodeX Competition brought together students from various backgrounds, all driven by a common goal: to create innovative projects within a tight timeframe & intense 3 hour code-jam. The competition featured different categories, including web development for seniors and general coding challenges. The event was well-organized, with an opening ceremony that outlined the rules, resources, and support available from mentors.

The Project: Petsbook

In the Web Development category, I focused on creating Petsbook, a social media platform where pet owners can create profiles for their pets and share updates, photos, and interact with other pet owners. Here’s an overview of what Petsbook offers:

  • User Profiles: Pet owners can create profiles for their pets, including details like name, breed, age, and photos.
  • News Feed: A dynamic news feed where users can post updates, photos, and videos of their pets.
  • Friend System: Users can send friend requests, accept friends, and follow other pets to stay updated on their activities.
  • Comments and Likes: Engaging with posts through comments and likes, fostering a sense of community among pet owners.

Development Journey

The journey of developing Petsbook was filled with both challenges and learning experiences. Here’s a breakdown of the development process:

  1. Planning and Brainstorming: Initially, I spent time brainstorming ideas and planning the structure of the website. This phase involved sketching out wireframes and defining the core functionalities of Petsbook.

  2. Coding and Implementation: Once the plan was set, I moved on to coding. This involved setting up the development environment, writing the code, and continuously testing for bugs. I used technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a 3rd party embed for social media aspects to build the site.

  3. Design and UI/UX: Creating a user-friendly interface was crucial. I focused on making the design intuitive and visually appealing, ensuring a good user experience for pet owners.

  4. Testing and Debugging: Rigorous testing was conducted to identify and fix any issues. This iterative process was essential to ensure the website was functional and met the competition’s standards.

The Challenges

Participating in CodeX was not without its challenges. Some of the significant hurdles included:

  • Time Management: Balancing the development of Petsbook within a limited timeframe required effective time management and prioritization of tasks.
  • Technical Difficulties: Encountering and resolving technical issues, such as bugs and integration problems, was part of the process. These challenges taught me valuable troubleshooting skills.

The Outcome

By the end of the competition, I had successfully completed Petsbook and presented it to the judges. Receiving feedback from experienced professionals was incredibly valuable and provided insights into areas for improvement. The project earned me a Certificate of Appreciation in the Web Development (Seniors) category, recognizing my participation and efforts.

Certificate of Appreciation - Web Development Certificate of Appreciation - Code Jam

Reflections

Participating in the CodeX Competition was an enriching experience. It taught me the importance of perseverance, innovation, and collaboration. The recognition I received in the form of certificates was a testament to the hard work and dedication I put into my projects.

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this competition and look forward to more such experiences in the future. This event has sparked a deeper interest in coding and web development, and I am excited to continue exploring these fields.

You can check out the Petsbook project on GitHub. (though the social media part might be non-functional now..)

Stay tuned for more updates on my projects and experiences. Happy coding!