Inspiration
Pair 2 Spare comes from the realization that many items come in pairs like shoes and gloves but sometimes only one of the pair is needed. We saw an opportunity to reduce waste and create a platform that specifically helps people with unique needs, such as those with limb differences. Allowing them to sell or exchange single items they no longer require can help users save money, provide more fashion options, and reduce waste.
What it does
Pair 2 Spare is a platform for a community of buyers and sellers connected through a simple, user-friendly web application. Users can list single items they don’t need, search for items that match their needs, and communicate directly with sellers via real-time messaging. The app ensures that the right item reaches the right person, making transactions smoother and more efficient.
How we built it
We built Pair 2 Spare using React for the front-end and Firebase Firestore for real-time data management. The application leverages Firebase for authentication, database storage, and live updates, while React hooks help us manage state and handle asynchronous data operations. Our chat functionality allowing buyers and sellers to initiate and engage in conversations is powered by Firestore. Note: For this hackathon prototype, our product data is currently stored in-memory (using a local model), meaning it isn’t persisted to a backend database for long-term storage.
Challenges we ran into
This was our first time using Firebase, and we faced several challenges along the way: Configuring Firestore security rules and managing permissions. Handling asynchronous data updates and race conditions—especially when creating real-time chat conversations. Debugging issues like multiple conversation instances being created due to rapid state updates from Firestore. Working with temporary in-memory data, which meant we had to simulate a backend until a persistent storage solution was implemented.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud that we built a real-time messaging system that lets users communicate directly about single items. Despite using in-memory data for the prototype, we managed to tailor our platform for a specific need while solving complex challenges such as ensuring data consistency and managing real-time updates effectively. We are also
What we learned
One of us never used React before and we all have never touched Firebase before. We had a great learning experience. We had very minimal planning time, so we started somewhat late. We will likely come up with an project idea ahead of time.
What's next for Pair 2 Spare
Enhance user authentication with a real system to securely manage buyers and sellers Implement a persistent database solution so that product and conversation data are stored permanently. Refine the user interface for better accessibility and usability. Expand the platform to support additional categories, more detailed product and seller profiles, and even integrate payment and shipping solutions.
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