Project Background
Hexaget is a personal project born from recognizing a critical environmental need: when property owners discover bee swarms or hives, they often resort to extermination instead of ethical removal. Meanwhile, beekeepers actively seek opportunities to rescue and relocate bee colonies. This platform bridges that gap, creating a win-win solution that saves bees while helping property owners.
The Challenge
The bee removal industry faced several disconnected problems:
- No centralized platform: Property owners didn't know how to find local beekeepers for ethical removal
- Time-sensitive nature: Bee swarms move quickly, requiring immediate response from nearby beekeepers
- Trust and verification: Property owners need confidence in the beekeepers they're inviting to their property
- Payment friction: No standardized way to handle quotes and payments for bee removal services
- Geographic limitations: Beekeepers only serve specific radius areas, making manual coordination difficult
Clean, welcoming interface explaining the service and encouraging immediate action
The Solution
I developed Hexaget as a comprehensive marketplace platform that intelligently connects property owners with nearby beekeepers, handling everything from initial contact to payment and reviews.
Technical Implementation
- Next.js with App Router: Modern React framework for optimal performance and SEO
- Convex Backend: Real-time serverless database providing instant updates and scalability
- Convex Auth: Secure authentication system with profile management
- Twilio Integration: SMS notifications alert beekeepers instantly when jobs appear in their area
- Stripe Payments: Seamless payment processing for quotes and services
- Geolocation Services: Automatic radius-based matching of requests to nearby beekeepers
Key Features
For Property Owners
- Simple address input to request help
- Automatic notification to all beekeepers within service area
- Real-time chat with responding beekeepers
- Transparent quotes and pricing
- Secure payment processing
- Review system for completed jobs
For Beekeepers
- Professional public profiles with custom URLs
- Dashboard showing active jobs and requests in area
- Quote templates for faster responses
- Chat system for client communication
- Payment setup through Stripe
- Service radius configuration
Clean dashboard showing active jobs, nearby requests, and public profile management
Mobile Experience
- Fully responsive design for field use
- Touch-optimized interfaces
- Quick access to critical features
- Streamlined quote creation on mobile devices
Mobile-optimized interface ensuring beekeepers can respond to requests while in the field
Profile & Settings Management
- Public profile toggle for visibility control
- Custom profile URLs for marketing
- Professional information display
- Stripe payment integration setup
- Account management features
Comprehensive settings page with profile management and payment setup
Technical Highlights
Real-time Features with Convex
- Instant message delivery without polling
- Live updates when new requests appear
- Serverless functions for scalability
- Built-in authentication system
Location-Based Matching Algorithm
- Geocoding addresses to coordinates
- Radius calculation for service areas
- Efficient querying of nearby beekeepers
Notification System
- Twilio SMS for immediate alerts
- In-app notifications for active users
- Email notifications for quotes and updates
- Customizable notification preferences
Development Approach with Claude Code
- Rapid prototyping of complex features
- Automated testing for payment flows
- Documentation generation for API endpoints
- Efficient debugging of real-time features
- Utilized Convex and Stripe MCP servers for streamlined testing and integration
Project Status
Currently in alpha testing, preparing for launch:
- Fixing small bugs and edge case scenarios
- Refining core features based on testing feedback
- Optimizing performance and user experience
- On track to launch by end of the year
Future Enhancements
Planned Features
- Educational content about bee importance
- Seasonal swarm predictions
- Beekeeper certification verification
- Mobile app for faster field responses
- Integration with local environmental organizations
Key Takeaways
This personal project demonstrates several important capabilities:
- Identifying real-world problems: Recognizing an underserved market with environmental impact
- Full-stack development: Building complete marketplace from frontend to payments
- Modern tech adoption: Leveraging Convex for real-time features instead of traditional backends
- User-centric design: Creating intuitive interfaces for both technical and non-technical users
Hexaget showcases how modern web technologies can create meaningful solutions that benefit both people and the environment, while demonstrating proficiency in building complex, real-time marketplace platforms.