Five aspiring programmers, four months of intensive work, one refined prototype, and eighth place out of 67 projects. That’s how we can sum up Cassovia Code’s participation in the tenth edition of Live IT Projects.
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry
Live IT Projects is the result of long-term collaboration between the Department of Computers and Informatics at FEI TUKE and the Košice IT Valley cluster. Every year, this initiative connects dozens of students with representatives from IT companies operating in the Košice region. Students work on real assignments in a way that closely mirrors what they might experience after graduation. They are supported by experienced mentors from both academia and industry.
An Interactive Map of Košice’s Hidden Treasures
Many of the projects culminate in software prototypes, such as information systems, websites, mobile or cloud applications, IoT solutions, smart interfaces, or electronic services.
Since the theme of this year’s edition was helping the city and its residents, our task was to develop a prototype of a simple and intuitive Android mobile application that would allow users to discover artworks and cultural treasures in Košice. The project, which we named Hidden Art, aimed to inspire younger generations to explore the city’s hidden corners and artistic gems—many of which often go unnoticed by passersby.
On the technical side, the application was built using React Native combined with Node.js, ensuring flexibility, speed, and cross-platform compatibility. Students had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with modern libraries and work with a programming language that currently dominates mobile app development.
Key Features of the App:
- A comprehensive map showcasing hundreds of public art pieces
- Filtering options by artwork type, location, routes, and popularity
- Navigation to selected locations and predefined recommended routes
- Gamification elements to make discovery more engaging
- User-generated content, allowing people to contribute their own discoveries
Collaboration Process
During later stages, we held consultations on design and code improvements. Every two to three weeks, the team presented their progress in demo meetings, attended by both industry mentors and university representatives. Together, we evaluated priorities for further development and resolved technical issues.
Two and a Half Minutes of Stress and a Well-Earned 8th Place
The grand finale of Live IT Projects is a public competition, where students present their solutions in under three minutes to an audience and expert jury. Their goal? Not just to impress but to convince the judges of their project’s value and functionality.
This year’s edition was packed with top-tier projects, making it tough to stand out in a strong field of competitors. That’s why we are even more excited that our team managed to secure a spot in the top 10 best projects!
Check out the aftermovie to see students’ reactions right after the presentations and hear what they took away from working with Cassovia Code.
Looking Forward to Next Year!
Dominika Petrová
The author of this article is an experienced project manager with several years of expertise in agile product development, prototyping, and managing digital product lifecycles. She has also worked as an analyst in the medical industry and at Cassovia Code, where she was responsible for collaboration with the U.S.-based company Bloomreach.
