FocusPaw

FocusPaw

We Entered a Hackathon and Built FocusPaw!

Hi, it's Adele again! Arthur and I entered the IncludAI - The Neurodiversity Hackathon, and I wanted to write down everything that happened so I don't forget it. We made an app called FocusPaw, and I honestly like it way more than I thought I would.

Why We Made It

The idea started when Arthur's homework did. He would sit down to study and just get stuck, because he didn't know where to begin or how to stay on track. After a lot of talks with his teachers and his psychologist (and, okay, a lot of detentions), we figured out a few things that actually help him. So we built an app around those things.

What FocusPaw Does

FocusPaw is a study app with features for people who think differently, like Arthur. Here is what it does:

  • Smart sorting. You just type in what you need to do, and the app puts your homework in order for you. It goes by when things are due and how hard they are. So if math is due first, math goes first, then history, then ELA last. Arthur says the hardest part is knowing where to start, so this fixes that.
  • Work sessions with a timer. It's kind of like the pomodoro technique, but our work session is 50 minutes and then a 10-minute break. That's the timing Arthur likes best. Once you start, it keeps you on track.
  • Mochi, your companion. Mochi checks on you every 10 minutes (you can change how often) and asks, "Are you on track?" If you're spacing out, Mochi gently brings you back to your task instead of letting you drift off.

How We Built It

We used Claude Code to build the whole thing, and we ended up with a simple, cute, and functional app. I genuinely like using it.

The Hard Parts

I'm not going to pretend it was easy. We actually had to restart multiple times, and we almost gave up more than once. Using AI to build a real app was sometimes really overwhelming. But we kept pushing, and honestly? I loved every second of it.

What I'm Proud Of

I'm proud of the final result and the way we pushed through the hard parts and didn't quit. But mostly I'm glad we can help other neurodiverse students, because we know they need it. Arthur needed it, and now maybe someone else won't have to feel stuck the way he did.

What I Learned

I learned a lot from this one, like how to double-check the little details for errors, how to start over when a plan falls apart, and most of all, how to communicate and work with someone else.

Try It Yourself!

You can try FocusPaw right now and study effectively:

Watch Our Video

Thanks for reading! Meet FocusPaw, and study effectively. 🐾