What it does
Course Buddy is a Chrome extension which takes inspiration from study apps like DuoLingo and Quizlet. It quizzes you at random intervals while you browse and calls you out if you're slacking.
Missed questions are saved and automatically resurfaced using spaced repetition.
There is also an on screen avatar inspired by the persistence of the Duolingo Owl with a bit of edge from Kon. He is your ultimate accountability partner.
The goal is to reduce passive scrolling and increase focused recall.
How we built it
Chrome Extension A background service worker manages alarms and API calls. The popup UI allows topic management and review of missed questions.
Google Gemini API Generates topic specific quiz questions and explanations dynamically.
ElevenLabs API Handles voice output for the avatar prompts.
MongoDB Atlas Stores missed questions and repetition intervals so progress persists across sessions.
Challenges we ran into
We originally planned to use MongoDB Atlas Data API directly from the extension. During development, we discovered it had reached end of life in September 2025.
We pivoted to building an Express.js backend with the MongoDB Node driver and restructured our data layer mid project.
Accomplishments we are proud of
- We implemented a rudimentary form of spaced repetition.
- The extension integrates cleanly into normal browsing without breaking workflow.
- We integrated Gemini, ElevenLabs, and MongoDB into a stable Chrome extension architecture.
- We learned how to use service workers to our advantage.
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