Gift Exchange Automator
Overview
Last year, my friends and I gathered to draw names for a Secret Santa gift exchange. However, we faced a challenge - three dating couples amongst the six of us made the traditional drawing process a frustrating endeavor. Matching with a significant other seemed less exciting to us, but redrawing names multiple times and compromising the secretive nature of the game wasn't ideal either.
To tackle this problem and enhance our Secret Santa experience, I wrote a Python script. The script allowed us to input our names and emails, along with pairings of names of significant others within the group. The script then matched players who weren't significant others and seamlessly notifyied each member of their secret match through email.
The project evolved into a full-scale web application. I built the website around the Python algorithm using Flask framework and now the tool is free and easy for anyone to use.
From what started as a Python script that used an Excel sheet as a method for inputs, I leveraged the versatile Flask framework and incorporated an SQLite database that resulted in a robust and scalable web application deployed on Render.
This project has been a valuable learning experience for me, enabling me to deepen my understanding of object-oriented programming and refine my knowledge of web development workflows. By continuously updating and expanding its capabilities, I aim to incorporate best practices and industry-standard techniques into my work. Although frontend development wasn't my primary focus on this project, I intend to continue sharpening my knowledge of CSS and JavaScript while making the site look more appealing.
