What it does
Our project is a currency converter that supports up to a selection of 6 languages. Other functions include saving currency conversion pairs and displaying the exchange rate chart(unfinished). For example, if you are shopping on a foreign site in a different currency, you can utilize the extension for a better idea of the prices displayed. In addition, individuals who make investments such as buying stocks would need to be alert about the exchange rates to evaluate the returns and risks. Therefore, we thought this extension was a great way to connect tech and business, which is the theme of this hackathon.
How we built it
The format we chose is a Google Chrome extension, which is a simple way to integrate quick currency conversions when needed. To build the extension, we used VSCode with appropriate HTML, JavaScript, cascading style sheets, and manifest.json files. The API we used is the exchange rate API, which provides real-time exchange rate when the user presses the “convert” button.
After converting amounts between selected currencies, users can save up to three pairs of them, utilizing localStorage for data persistence. The interface displays saved pairs for easy reference, and they remain there even after closing and reopening the extension. Additionally, there is an alert that prevents exceeding the limit of three pairs displayed in the pop-up window. Removal of the saved pairs is achieved through dynamic JavaScript event handling, updating both the display and underlying data array. This concise yet impactful solution enhances user interaction and adds practically to the exchange rate tracking experience.
For the trend chart, we used an API that can fetch the exact exchange rate on a specific day. Accessing weekly data is achieved via iterating the recent seven days to see if the rate is accessible, then storing the accessed rates in an array to be displayed on the y-axis. Meanwhile, the corresponding dates are displayed on the x-axis . We picked a line chart as it is simple to read and provides an accurate visualization.
Challenges we ran into
We had a difficult time finding a free API that works for fetching the data and finishing all the planned functions in the given time frame.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Making others' lives easier with this extension. We're also proud of the amount of material we're able to learn and absorb in such a short amount of time, and seeing the results of our hard work.
What's next for Exchange Rate Tracker
Be able to successfully implement the trend chart!
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