Geminotes in action search notes
Geminotes in action UI
Geminotes in action using ia

Geminotes Project Overview

Inspiration

The idea for Geminotes came from a personal need to organize and capture notes efficiently while browsing the web. Often, we come across interesting information that we'd like to keep, but saving it manually or dealing with various tools can be cumbersome. The inspiration behind Geminotes was to create a tool that streamlines the process of saving and organizing notes directly from the browser, making the experience seamless and productive.

What it does

Geminotes is a Chrome extension that allows users to take quick, organized notes while browsing. It features a user-friendly sidebar UI, where users can easily jot down their thoughts, save them, and even categorize their notes for future reference. It’s designed to be minimalistic and easy to use without distracting the user from their browsing experience.

How we built it

We built Geminotes using TypeScript for the backend logic, ensuring a robust and type-safe environment. The frontend UI is developed using HTML and CSS, creating a simple yet effective design. The entire project was structured to function as a Chrome extension, allowing users to load it directly into their browser. We used npm to manage dependencies and ensure the project was easy to maintain.

The build process involved setting up a clean and modular codebase, making it easier to scale and update. After setting up the project, we compiled the code using npm run build, which converted our TypeScript code into JavaScript, ready for the browser extension environment.

Challenges we ran into

The main challenge in developing Geminotes was implementing Gemini, a central feature that allows users to categorize and sync their notes effectively. Gemini is a complex system that required careful design to ensure data was handled securely and efficiently. Integrating Gemini with the Chrome extension posed unique challenges, particularly with synchronizing data across different sessions and ensuring smooth functionality within the Chrome browser's environment.

Another challenge was maintaining a minimalist design that was both functional and visually appealing, while making sure that the app did not disrupt the user's browsing experience. Ensuring responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes was also a key focus.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of creating a clean, intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate while also offering powerful functionality. The seamless integration with Chrome allows users to take notes without interrupting their workflow, which is a feature we’re particularly excited about.

The successful use of TypeScript for maintaining strong typing throughout the project helped us catch bugs early in development, which made the whole process smoother and more efficient.

What we learned

Throughout the development of Geminotes, we learned the importance of user-centered design. Understanding what the user needs in a note-taking tool and simplifying the process to make it as effortless as possible was key.

We also gained valuable experience with Chrome extension development and the challenges that come with it, especially related to testing and deployment. Implementing Gemini taught us the importance of designing scalable, robust systems that can handle complex data structures while ensuring smooth user interactions.

What's next for Geminotes

Looking ahead, the future of Geminotes involves implementing cloud syncing. We aim to enable users to access their notes from multiple devices, providing a seamless experience across desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. This will allow for a more flexible, cross-platform solution, ensuring that users' notes are always up-to-date and available wherever they go.

Additionally, we plan to refine the user interface based on user feedback, adding customization options such as themes and layout preferences. As we continue to improve Geminotes, we aim to make it the go-to tool for anyone who needs to quickly and efficiently save and manage notes while browsing the web.