Petspace Client App

Petspace is a portal for users (pet-owners) to connect with sitters.

• The overaching goal of this app is to have an ai assistant help the user to find qualified sitters within a short distance to the user.

Setup

1. $ git clone git@github.com:DBeaulne/petspace-client.git
2. $ cd petspace-client
3. $ npm install
4. Make a copy of the .env.sample file. Renane it to .env and add the variables required.
5. $ npm start
6. The app will load onto your default browser

Limitations

• The AI assitant is non-functioning at this time due to time constraints and a steeper than anticipated learning curve

  • The vast majority of documentation and examples utilize mongoDB and Python and the learning curve has had to include figuring out how to convert those examples into mySQL and javascript

• The Map function is non-functioning at this time due to time lost on the AI learning curve

• Future iterations

  • implement a search function for users to find sitters based on direct user input

    • the function will search the database:
      • first by date availability
      • then by sitter pet_types
      • sort the results by distance, nearest first
    • then the results will be sent to a map function that will add markers for all the returned results
    • the results will also be displayed below the map, in cards, to show the sitters profile-pic, name, city, hourly rate, and pet types that they care for

  • implement the ability for a new sitter registration

  • implement ai chat functionality to make the process easier for the users

    • this needs to include a fall-back for the times that the openAI servers are down. We want our users and sitters to still be able to function without ai

Lessons Learned

• Time management
  • there were multiple instances of time-blindness while deep into learning the openai or google maps api's
• Excessive refactoring
  • there were many times where trying to refactor the code led to bugs and lost time
• Lofty goals
  • the desire to deliver a fully functional app, in excess of the agreed upon deliverables, led to frustrations that inhibited progress