What I Built
TrailGuard is an app designed to work fully offline, providing an emergency SOS button with automated SMS alerts, a trail alert system, pre-trip safety checklists, and emergency tools like a digital whistle and flashlight.
It was designed with a safety-first mindset, making it not just a project — but a potential life-saving tool.
How Bolt.new Transformed My Development Process
Bolt.new was unexpectedly efficient. Its AI-powered code generation and contextual assistance helped me rapidly prototype and implement complex features like offline data persistence and GPS integration—tasks that had been cumbersome in previous attempts on other platforms.
The intuitive prompt system allowed me to describe functionalities in natural language and get clean, working code almost instantly. This dramatically reduced development time and frustration.
In essence, Bolt.new turned a challenging project into an enjoyable and surprisingly fast development journey.
One of my favorite code prompts and snippets is the one, which handles emergency
What made this snippet especially meaningful was discovering that it could be built using React. Most of my previous attempts at similar apps involved writing only in plain HTML or other web technologies, so using React Native was a pleasant surprise. The declarative, component-based approach of React helped me structure the app cleanly and manage state and side effects effectively.
Beyond the Code
I was inspired by a news story about a person who got lost while exploring a mountain. It made me realize how vulnerable people can be in remote areas without reliable communication. That’s when I thought: what if there was a fully functioning app that could work completely offline and send emergency messages, similar to an Amber Alert, to notify contacts if someone is at risk.
This idea became the foundation for TrailGuard. My goal was to create a tool that could truly save lives by providing reliable safety features even when there’s no cell service or internet.
This human motivation kept me focused and passionate throughout the development process.
After the Hack
I built TrailGuard as part of the hackathon challenge — more of a personal experiment than a long-term project.
Throughout the process, I discovered how powerful tools like Bolt.new and AI-assisted development can be. They made everything faster, smoother, and surprisingly enjoyable.
Most importantly, I realized that building something with real purpose — even as a solo developer — is possible.