Library Web-App Digital Church

Library Web-App Digital Church

Digital Library App

No more inefficiency and say hello to productivity! We are introducing a new Digital Library assistant living right inside your Slack workspace.

Our application brings the entire Digital Church Library collection to your fingertips, all without ever leaving your workspace.

Introduction

Digital Church Aachen is a vibrant community hub located in the heart of Aachen, Germany. They cater specifically to the needs of the tech community, offering a collaborative workspace and fostering innovation amongst its members.

Recognizing the importance of continuous learning and knowledge acquisition, Digital Church Aachen has established a library specifically for its members. However, the current system lacks a formal structure for managing the borrowing process. This can lead to inefficiencies and create challenges in tracking loaned materials, due dates, and member borrowing history.

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This project outlines the development of a digital library application integrated with a Slack Workspace. The primary focus is on creating a user-friendly platform for accessing and managing library resources directly within the Slack communication environment.

By integrating a digital library application with a Slack bot, Digital Church Library can revolutionize how members access and manage their resources. This innovative approach offers a seamless solution within the familiar and widely used Slack platform. Members can leverage the bot to browse the collection, borrow and return books with ease, and wishlist some books. This not only simplifies the borrowing process but also empowers members to take greater control of their digital library experience, fostering increased engagement and promoting a more organized system for managing the library’s resources.

Method

The Slack bot will utilize the Slack Web API to communicate with the Slack platform. This API provides methods for sending messages, reacting to commands or events, and managing other functionalities within the Slack workspace.

• TECH STACK:

We designed the interface for our digital library Slack bot using Slack’s Block Kit Builder. It is basically a drag-and-drop tool that helped us build a clean and user-friendly interface that fits right in with Slack. No need to learn a whole new way to use the bot — it will feel as familiar as using Slack itself!

In addition to the user interface, a critical component yet to be addressed is the database. We have opted to utilize SQLite3, a lightweight and embedded relational database management system, to manage the bot’s internal data.

Project Result

Some features that we have developed: 1. Home Screen

The home screen is your one-stop shop. Explore all app features and see your current borrows at a glance, track the due dates, and initiate returns — all in one convenient location.

2. Add a book

Our app lets you easily add new books to the system. This means you can share your favorite reads with others and help build a bigger, better collection for everyone to borrow from. Just search for the book by ISBN, add the details, and it’s ready for others to discover!

3. Find a book

Our intuitive search function empowers you to effortlessly discover books that spark your curiosity. Simply enter ISBN of the book and our system will present it.

Once you’ve found the perfect book, borrowing is a breeze. With a single click, you can add the book to your borrowing queue, making it readily available for pickup. The home screen then becomes your central hub, where you can track the due date and ensure the return process is smooth and convenient as we mentioned before.

So, ditch the endless browsing and frustrating library treks. Our search function is your gateway to a world of literary adventures, waiting to be explored at your fingertips

4. Wishlist a book and show users current wishlist

Ever started browsing for a book and come up “empty-handed”? Or maybe you just finished an amazing book and want to share the love. This feature is like your personal genie for the library!

Just enter the ISBN of the book, and it will be added to the wishlist. It is a great way to get your hands on that must-read or influence what others get to borrow.

Think of it as a wishlist for the library — the more people who suggest a book, the higher the chance it ends up on the shelf for everyone to enjoy!

5. Delete a book

Ever add a book to the system, only to realize it’s a duplicate, the wrong edition, or simply doesn’t belong in the library’s collection? Our app empowers you to become a curator of the digital shelves!

With a user-friendly interface, you can easily remove books entirely from the system. This is perfect for identifying and eliminating duplicates, outdated information, or irrelevant content. This ensuring the library’s collection remains fresh and accurate.

Challenges

Challenges that we encountered during the development :

1. User Interface Limitations Block Kit Constraints: Designing an intuitive user interface proved difficult due to the limitations of the Block Kit builder. While Block Kit offers a good foundation, creating a truly user-friendly experience can be hindered by its restricted functionalities.
2. Unfamiliar Tech Stack Learning Curve for Bolt.js: The project’s reliance on Bolt.js, a less commonly used framework, presented a learning curve. The documentation, while informative, could be improved in terms of intuitiveness for developers unfamiliar with the framework. This necessitated additional effort to fully understand its functionalities and best practices.
3. Tech Stack Pivot Adapting to Bolt.js: Our initial plan involved using a different, more widely adopted tech stack such as React. However, we had to adapt our approach and utilize Bolt.js. This required us to learn a new framework on the fly, adding complexity to the development process.
4. Communication and Collaboration Effective Team Communication: As with any team project, ensuring clear and consistent communication amongst team members was crucial. Establishing efficient communication channels and fostering a collaborative environment were essential for smooth development.
5. Time Management Meeting Project Session: Managing time effectively to do brainstorming and coding session is always a significant challenge. Since all of us have some other priorities to do such as university exams, it is really hard to maintain and managing the project. Careful planning, prioritizing tasks, and open communication within the team are key to staying on track.
6. Version Control Challenges Using Git as beginners: As beginners with Git, merging project code presented its own set of challenges. Mastering the intricacies of version control helped ensure a smooth development workflow and prevented conflicts between team members’ contributions.

Conclusion

In short, this project ditches the outdated library system. This bot puts the entire library collection at your fingertips, all within your familiar Slack workspace. No more switching apps or dealing with a clunky system. Browse, borrow, return, and wishlist books with ease, all through the bot. This not only makes things easier for you, but also keeps track of everything for the library, making it a win-win for everyone.

While our current features empower you to manage your books, discover new titles, and contribute to the library’s collection, we have a world of exciting possibilities waiting to unfold. Our development team is exploring ways to expand search functionalities beyond just ISBN. Envision searching by title, category, or even author keywords. This would allow you to uncover books way more easier and enhance the user experiences.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re brimming with ideas to elevate your borrowing experience. Stay tuned, because at our app, the adventure is far from over!

A Special Thanks We’d like to thanks our mentors (Simon Deckwirth and Mahmud Hepsev) for the invaluable guidance and support during the development process of this app.

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Team Members: — Irvin Sadeli — Mert Satici — Wei Yan Lennard Tan