The problem Caminos solves

Caminos is born as a way to address the need for a modern, secure, and memorable way to document pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way). With over 1000 checkpoints and a route spanning 939.7 km, Caminos transforms the journey for over 445,000 pilgrims yearly. Traditional physical stamps can be easily lost or damaged, and they lack the security and permanence that digital solutions offer. By integrating blockchain technology, Caminos ensures that each stamp collected is authentic and immutable, providing pilgrims with a lasting digital record of their journey. This can also be extended to various use cases such as creating engaging treasure hunts in stores, cultural tours, and rewarding participants with NFTs for completing challenges, adding a layer of fun and security to various experiences.

Challenges I ran into

One of the significant challenges I faced was integrating the QR code scanning and geolocation features with blockchain transactions in a seamless and user-friendly manner. Ensuring the security and authenticity of each digital stamp while maintaining a smooth user experience required careful handling of asynchronous operations and error management. Additionally, I encountered issues with the compatibility of different libraries and frameworks. To overcome these hurdles, we rigorously tested each component, used dynamic imports to optimize performance, and ensured all dependencies were correctly managed. Following the detailed documentation also played a crucial role in resolving these issues.

Moreover, I am not a developer by trade—I'm a graphic designer—and this was my first hackathon experience, making the challenge even greater. Integrating all the components on my own was a significant task. The final version deployed on Vercel is not the polished product I envisioned, but it provides a clear idea of the code used and the tools intended for integration. This has been an incredibly enriching experience, fueling my desire to continue learning about Web3 and blockchain technology. It was also my first solo hackathon, making it a uniquely rewarding endeavor.