Thomas Hastings

Last semester at UCCS, I taught CS 4300/CS 5300, an advanced software engineering course, to 56 undergraduates and 5 graduate students. Each semester, students are put into groups of 4 to 5 and asked to build an application for another group. Each student group acts as a developer group for one group and as a customer group for another. This allows students to get a feel for what it’s like to run software projects for a company while also understanding what it’s like to be a customer and to generate requirements for a software project. The projects last semester were fun to watch come together. Each group needed to use an external API and implement ChatGPT into the application itself to add AI features.

This year, I also added a requirement for my grad students to start with a project from a prior semester. This required them to learn about legacy software and how to add new features while refactoring old ones. I also threw them a curveball by asking them to ONLY use Claude Code to do this work. They were not allowed to write ANY code. In addition to building the features I gave them, they also had to write a research paper about their experience. Overall, I was very pleased with the groups and their projects.

These projects include a wide range of digital platforms that address real-world problems in areas like travel, finance, education, and fashion. All of the applications make strong use of artificial intelligence, whether it’s generating travel plans in Wanderly, analyzing stock data in PortfolAI, or simulating job interviews in the Active Interview Service.

Some teams worked on lifestyle apps, such as Buddy Crocker, a meal-planning app based on what you have at home, and Best Dressed, an AI-powered wardrobe management app. Other projects focused on teamwork and social features, like GroupThink’s project management tools and HarmoNet’s music discovery platform. Students also explored educational and scientific topics, including the OrbitStream space-tracking portal and an AI-powered language-learning app that adjusts to each user’s skill level.

Think Better Together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbozw2XLqpU

Created by a team of four developers, GroupThink is a comprehensive digital collaboration platform that streamlines student projects through integrated communication and organization tools. The software requires users to register and verify their identities before accessing a centralized dashboard where they can form teams and manage shared workspaces. Its primary features include video conferencing, real-time messaging, and file sharing, all of which are housed within specific team environments. A standout capability of the system is its use of artificial intelligence to analyze meeting transcripts and automatically generate actionable tasks for group members. Users can further organize their workflow by tracking task progress, viewing cloud-stored recordings, and managing personal account security settings. Through this unified interface, the platform aims to simplify the lifecycle of a project, from the initial planning stages to final completion.

OrbitStream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GOZWbgtDFQ

Orbit Stream is a digital platform designed to democratize space domain awareness by transforming complex orbital data into an accessible and engaging experience for the general public. Through a suite of tools, including real-time launch tracking, localized satellite identification, and an AI-powered learning assistant, the site provides users with a comprehensive view of the final frontier. The platform balances technical utility with aesthetic wonder by featuring a curated gallery of cosmic imagery and a customizable news feed that keeps enthusiasts informed about global space policy and scientific breakthroughs. Ultimately, this resource serves as an interactive intelligence portal that simplifies the vast complexities of space, making the activity above our atmosphere feel personal and transparent.

AI Playlist Generator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CuuJdHFr3M

Wanderly is a travel planning app that helps users discover activities and build personalized trip itineraries with ease. Users can explore attractions and hidden gems in any city, answer a short mood and preference questionnaire, and receive tailored activity recommendations based on their energy level, interests, and travel style. Wanderly can generate full itineraries by factoring in trip dates, group size, budget, daily rhythm, flights, hotels, and dietary needs. Trips can be reviewed, saved, printed, shared via access codes, and even planned across multiple stops, making Wanderly a simple, all-in-one tool for stress-free travel planning.

HarmoNet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB-CTqoOkm8

A music tracking and social discovery app that connects to your streaming accounts to analyze what you listen to, visualize your music habits, and help you discover new music. It lets you see detailed listening analytics, get AI-powered artist and track recommendations, build a personal artist wallet, and compare music taste with friends—all in one place.

Best Dressed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfLn3nmEjuc

A fashion discovery and outfit-planning app that helps users decide what to wear by browsing clothing items from multiple sources, organizing them into a personal wardrobe, and building outfits. Users can save items, create and share outfits with the community, and explore a forum for fashion inspiration. The app also features an AI-powered recommendation system that suggests clothing and accessories based on user needs or scenarios (like events or locations), making it easier to put together stylish outfits without the stress of deciding what to wear.

Wanderly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gmPdfouT8

Wanderly is a travel planning app that helps users discover activities and build personalized trip itineraries with ease. Users can explore attractions and hidden gems in any city, answer a short mood and preference questionnaire, and receive tailored activity recommendations based on their energy level, interests, and travel style. Wanderly can generate full itineraries by factoring in trip dates, group size, budget, daily rhythm, flights, hotels, and dietary needs. Trips can be reviewed, saved, printed, shared via access codes, and even planned across multiple stops, making Wanderly a simple, all-in-one tool for stress-free travel planning.

Active Interview Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PB-uO3vjaE

Active Interview Service is a versatile digital platform that bridges the gap between job seekers and recruiters through AI-driven simulations and automated evaluation tools. Candidates can upload their personal credentials and specific job listings to generate customized practice sessions that offer detailed performance reports and actionable feedback for improvement. Simultaneously, the system empowers employers to standardize the hiring process by creating interview templates and managing candidate invitations through a centralized dashboard. By providing objective scoring and transcripts for every session, the service serves as a comprehensive ecosystem that builds professional confidence and streamlines talent acquisition for all parties involved.

Buddy Crocker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr6Z9etFcpc

Buddy Crocker is a smart recipe and meal-planning app designed to make cooking easier and more organized. It lets users track what ingredients they already have in their pantry—by manually adding items, searching the USDA database, or using AI to detect ingredients from photos. Using that pantry data, the app generates personalized recipe ideas, including meals that use only what’s on hand and others that require just a few additional ingredients. Users can search, save, and upload recipes, set dietary preferences and allergens for safer cooking, and instantly scale recipes for different serving sizes. If ingredients are missing, Buddy Crocker automatically creates a shopping list. Overall, it helps home cooks plan, shop, and cook more efficiently by keeping everything in one place and centered around their real pantry.

PortfolAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EQQd-4LrqE

Portfolio AI is an investing and stock-analysis app designed to make market data easy to understand and act on. It provides clean, real-time stock data with interactive charts, watchlists, and customizable light or dark modes. Users can search stocks by company name, track market movements across stocks, crypto, ETFs, and forex, and stay updated with real-time, filterable market news. The app combines technical analysis, company fundamentals, market sentiment, and personalized risk assessment into clear, AI-powered insights. A built-in AI assistant explains stock terms, trends, and charts in context, while a dedicated learning section teaches investing concepts in simple, guided lessons. Overall, Portfolio AI brings data, education, and intelligent analysis together in one platform to help users make more confident investing decisions.

RecReo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgriPo9fNI

Recreo is a local activity discovery app that helps users find recreational activities and events based on location. By sharing their current location or entering a destination manually, users can view nearby places along with details like available activities, distance, address, Yelp rating, and current status. The app includes a short weather forecast and an interactive map to help users plan their outings. Users can filter results by factors such as activity type, distance, and ratings to better match their lifestyle or trip plans. Each location includes an AI-generated summary and a direct link to Yelp for more details. Overall, Recreo makes it easy to explore, plan, and discover recreational opportunities both near home and while traveling.

Learning Language Platform https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2K8tayyJ7Q

This app is an AI-driven language learning platform that helps users confidently learn up to 10 languages by meeting them at their current skill level. After signing up, users take a placement test that identifies their strengths and gaps, allowing the system to generate a personalized learning path. The platform delivers bite-sized lessons focused on individual language competencies, enhanced with an AI pronunciation coach to build real speaking ability. Learning is reinforced through adaptive quizzes, daily challenges, and gamified progress tracking with levels and badges. Built-in help resources and an AI assistant provide guidance throughout the experience. Overall, the app combines personalization, speech practice, and gamification to make language learning structured, motivating, and accessible for beginners through advanced learners.

GroupGo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GOckGjsnss

Group Go is a group travel planning application designed to simplify one of the most frustrating parts of trip planning: getting everyone to agree. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, group chats, and conflicting budgets, Group Go centralizes all planning data into a single, easy-to-use platform. Each group member enters their budget, travel preferences, interests, and flexibility. Group Go then uses real-time flight and hotel data from external travel APIs to calculate total trip costs and evaluate potential destinations. A recommendation engine balances affordability with shared interests, ensuring that suggested trips work financially for everyone while still aligning with the group’s preferences. The result is a ranked list of destinations with transparent pricing and activity options, allowing groups to make informed decisions quickly and fairly. Members can generate multiple options, vote on trips, and iterate until the group reaches agreement. By replacing guesswork and negotiation with data-driven recommendations, Group Go helps groups plan trips faster, smarter, and with far less stress.