2026-09-29

Polished the site by adding smaller styling changes

• Made the navbar use flexbox

• Added the footer to all nested pages as well

• Added new custom backgrounds to each of the pages

• I learned how to use the !important keyword (takes precedence over even inline styling, used it to make the text white for the cake page as the background was black)

• I learned how to make different patterns in the background (stripes, dots, concentric circles, etc)

2026-09-26

Header and footer added + filled out placeholder recipes + flexbox on home page, etc

Changes:

• Added the apple pie recipes + pages
• Filled in ingredient list and recipe step placeholders with real recipes on all pages
• Replaced table on main page with flexbox layout
• Added a global navigation bar including a random recipe button
• Made small spacing (padding and margin) changes around the website
• Added a small footer on the home page

What I learned:

• I practiced using combinators and specificity in css (for example, styling specifically the links inside each list option in the navbar with “.navbar li a {…}”)
• I learned about border box reset (padding and border and included in the assigned width/height, helps elements stay organized the same on the screen even if you increase the padding or border values)
• Practiced adding a navbar and footer and how to make the current page of the navbar highlighted (assign the active class)
• Did a little javascript for the random recipe button (picks a random recipe that is not the current one and navigates to that page)
• Practicing using css shorthand (border: 2px solid black)
• I learned about how margin collapses
• Inline vs block elements
• I learned how to use flexbox

2026-09-21

Styling added to home page and nested pages + added cake page

Changes:

• Changed the fonts and their weights site-wide
• Added the rich chocolate cake recipe + page
• Polished the table on the home page with colors and padding
• Added padding and margins in many areas across the site
• Added a striped background
• Replaced the “Go Back” link with a styled back button
• Added image borders
• customized bullet point type for unordered and ordered lists
• Featured recipe on home page

What I learned:

• I refreshed my memory on the basic css (classes, id, type selector, universal selector)
• I learned how specificity works in css and how it decides what styles take priority
• I learned about combinators
• I learned about list-style-position: inside and used it to place the bullet inside the text box for my unordered and ordered lists
• I learned how to make a striped background with repeating-linear-gradient

Next Steps:

• Adding more styling to the nested recipe pages
• Add the remaining 2 recipes to replace placeholders
• Filling in the ingredients and steps on the recipe pages

2026-09-17

Basic site html home page + recipe specfic pages

Changes:

• Added in the headers and descriptions on the home page
• Added in an image for each recipe
• Placed the recipe preview cards inside a table
• Linked the cards to their respective recipe pages
• Created recipe pages with placeholder lists for ingredients and recipe steps, and a return to home link

What I learned:

• I refreshed my memory on the basic html structure as well as common tags
• I learned how to make unordered and ordered lists (as I did for my ingredients and steps respectively)
• I learned how to link to different pages within the site with tags (for example, the back link on each recipe page)
• I learned how to add images with a defined width without squishing/stretching them
• How to add a table (as i did to hold the recipe cards on the home page)

Next Steps:

• Adding css (styling) so it looks better
• Replacing the bottom 3 placeholder recipes with 3 more ones
• Filling in the ingredients and steps on the recipe pages

Devlog 11

BETA version has been UPDATED!

Try it out here: https://linktr.ee/mealmash

After finishing notifications and bugfixes last devlog, I started testing the app on different phones and realized it kinda broke on smaller screens and with screen zoom settings on. For example, the nutrition circle was overlapping the stuff next to it, the tags were going off screen and text was overflowing from its container. I added and fixed some helper code for responsiveness and went through the whole app making everything resize properly based on the screen size. I then added a mini saves section to the bottom of the home page that shows your saved recipe categories. I also fixed an annoying bug where you couldn’t scroll through the search results in the select specific ingredients bottom sheet (this took so long to fix :( ). I also disabled the camera option to auto add your ingredients by photo cuz I haven’t built the AI that reads the photos yet.

I also made some supabase changes and more general bugfixes across the app. I made the featured recipes on the home page open when you click them (and added the full recipes there). Then, to make the app more friendly to new users, I added a complete tutorial onboarding with cool animations that help the user understand how to use the app. Then I redid the build for both iOS and Android so you can try it out!

Here are some screenshots of the tutorial and the mini saves section:

Devlog 10

Mostly minor changes:

• Added new notifications
• NUMEROUS bug fixes

Um yeah sorry for the short devlog, most of the time was spent thinking of notifications and fixing annoying bugs.

Devlog 9  

BETA VERSION IS OUT! 

Try it out here:

Android: https://expo.dev/accounts/ashermemon/projects/never-leftover-new/builds/5fa5640f-6a34-4513-8dc3-4af86768a41b

IOS: https://testflight.apple.com/join/gyUzY9ur

After working on achievements, icons, and dark mode in the last devlog, I decided to move on to smaller details across the app. I started by adding subtle animations in certain areas of the app and tinting shadows rather than keeping them always black. I also removed an old text input at the top of the home screen and replaced it with a surprise me button and made it look cool (generates a random recipe on click). Finally, I added a toast notification when the user unlocks an achievement, which I think looks pretty neat. These new changes, however, came with a whole bunch of new bugs to fix, which meant a lot of tedious work. 

After adding these features, I worked on more of the under the hood stuff. I completely restructured my MMKV storage (stores all the saved recipes and other stuff) as there were a lot of problems with my previous system. I did this by making lots of helper functions and using structured records rather than using random variables. Additionally, I moved the meal images to my supabase and made my code fetch them from there, so that they aren’t included in the app build (that would take up extra space). Finally, I added profile picture uploading on the profile tab, made some smaller changes, and created the beta builds of the app for you to try out!

Here are some screenshots!

Devlog 8

SAVED RECIPES, achievements, new icons, haptics and MORE

With the redesign of the profile page in the last devlog, I had one more key page to rework: the saved recipes page. Previously, it was a really ugly list of recipe names inside boxes, and that was about it. So I started by routing the profile saves button to a new “Saves Home” page with different recipe categories (Sweet Treats, Quick Snacks, etc.). I then made the AI generating the recipes also classify which categories the recipe fits into. These category cards go to the page and display the actual recipes when clicked. So I made a new recipe card component (looks much nicer and includes details and a photo instead of just the title) and filtered the recipes to display the correct ones based on which category card was clicked.

A bonus feature I decided to add was achievements. I set up the area for them in the last devlog, and this time I worked on coming up with them and displaying them on the profile. I realized, however, that the emojis I was using weren’t going to cut it for this, so I went on a hunt for a nice 3D icon pack. I ended up finding a few icon packs that were similar enough to use across the entire app. And so, I migrated to these new 3d icons next, which I think made the app look a lot more polished. I also decided to go through some bugs, fix them and add missing haptic feedback across the app.

Here are some screenshots of achievements and the save pages (in dark mode cuz i like it)!

Devlog 7

Grocery List, Dark Mode, Profile and more!

With the ingredient search api implemented last devlog, I started off by testing and tweaking it a bit. Next I made same changes to the home page, and made the browse recipe by category buttons work (so now you can scroll through lunch recipes or dessert recipes from the home page!). I realized that my project was getting kinda cluttered with old components, packages and styles, so I cleaned up everything that was no longer in use.

The next feature I wanted to add was a grocery list that adds ingredients to the pantry when the user checks them off. I also added features to re use your list by unchecking all items. I then completely restarted the profile page as well as I hadn’t updated it from my old design from months ago. Here I added a dark mode / light mode toggle switch that controls the theme of the app. I spent a couple days just tweaking both the light mode and dark mode color palettes as well as making minor changes like shadows. There’s still some work to get done on the profile page and saves page, so that’s what I will be working on next!

Here are some screenshots of the changes!

The Hexapod’s CAD is DONE! Or at least V1 is finished. I integrated the PCBs into the main shell, added a battery component, put in a bunch of sensors and LEDs, and generally finished up the CAD. This is a pretty big milestone, as I can now 3D print, assemble, program, and test my creation. Over the next few days, I will be taking this guy from the screen into the real world. It’s been a journey, from initial planning, leg design and prototyping, PCB design, and finally outer shell appearance and sensor integration. The most challenging part of the mechanical CAD was making everything fit! The robot is pretty compact, and the electronics take up a ton of space. I ended up hanging the Pi from the top of the robot to get everything to fit. I think I will have enough space for wiring, but it will be close. That is the main reason why every PCB trace is overspecced, so I should, in theory, have minimal temperature rise.

Devlog 6

Ingredient search API!

After finishing up the core pantry functionality last devlog, I had one more crucial feature to implement: a way to actually search for and add ingredients. For this, I used the OpenNutrition Foods database as it fit my needs best. I then went through and removed duplicates, branded items and more! The next step was setting up Supabase with this dataset so I could call it in the app, which took a while. After setting it up, I created the search feature in the app, styled it, and fixed A LOT of bugs. I ended up adding a category column to the dataset by synthetically generating values with Gemini as well as a popularity score column. The popularity score helps inform which ingredients appear first when searching.

I also implemented the Browse Ingredients mode that allows the user to pick specific ingredients to generate with rather than their whole pantry. I made the search from the pantry into a component and reused it here, just adding to a temporary list of Ingredients rather than to the pantry. Other than those changes, I pretty much worked on bugfixes and implementing small changes like being able to rename the pantry after creation.

Here are some screenshots of the new features!

MEOW OR NEVER!

Devlog 2! – A WHOLE lot of changes…

Update:

I have since submitted to the jam! Check it out here:
https://itch.io/jam/gmtk-jam-2026/rate/4822820

I m making a game where a cat delivers a goodbye letter to his longtime cat friend who is moving away with his human. I decided to make the cat drive a makeshift cardboard car that he made at home and that breaks over time as the stakes get higher and the time runs out.

What I did since last devlog…

• Created the entire terrain world to drive on (including a huge cliff near the center!) AND THEN RECREATED THE WHOLE THING AFTER IT GOT DELETED AND CORRUPTED BY GITHUB SOMEHOW

• Added Fog and the sky

• Got drifting working with tire trails

• Added log cabins (you spawn at one and try to make it to the other where you cat friend is!)

• Modeled the cats, location icon and navigation arrow

• Implemented navigation arrow that directs you to the destination

• Tweaked Driving

• Created the main menu, win and lose screens

• Make the name title thing (logo)

• Added music

• and a buncha other things

MEOW OR NEVER

Devlog 1! 

I have not touched game dev for like a year, but for some reason I decided to make this

I m making a game where a cat delivers a goodbye letter to his longtime cat friend who is moving away with his human. I decided to make the cat drive a makeshift cardboard car that he made at home and that breaks over time as the stakes get higher and the time runs out.

So far, I have gotten a suspension car working to drive, steer and drift! I also added a arcade timer to the UI! Most of my time was spent bugfixing the suspension car as I have never done any 3d physics stuff before. I also modeled a makeshift cardboard car for the cat and some tires. Finally I added a cool pixelated effect that makes the game super arcadey!

Check out some drifting!

Devlog 5

Pantry development and more! 

After I redesigned the pantry in the last devlog, I began developing it in the app! I started by making a reusable onboarding sequence component and then using this component for the user’s first time on the pantry page (setup). It walks the user through naming their pantry, adding an icon, and adding ingredients! Creating this component, however, came with bug after bug and required reshaping a lot of the app. For instance, in order to fit my new pantry system, I had to completely change the way the ingredients and pantry details were stored and retrieved on different pages.

After finishing the onboarding portion, I developed the actual pantry page that is shown after setup, displaying ingredients with filters and a search bar. In addition, I worked on colours and made some minor tweaks to the entire app. As for next steps, I definitely need to get an ingredient API hooked up so I can search through ingredients to add to the pantry.

Here is a screenshot of the new design in the app!

Devlog 4 – June 15-25, 2026

Pantry page design and development!

Last devlog, I finished the generator page, meaning the next necessary step was to allow the user to add ingredients. I created the pantry page to serve this purpose, allowing users to either snap a photo of their fridge and pantry or manually add ingredients. I first created a design in figma, and once I thought it looked okay, I started developing it.

About 3 hours through development, however, I started to find issues with the design including a lack of clear instructions and a difficult user experience. I used tiny tags for ingredients under dropdowns, making it difficult to navigate. Additionally, I didn’t have any features like choosing an expiration date or quantity, which are often crucial for keeping track of what you have.

Because of these issues, I started from scratch, creating a whole new figma design. I probably spent ~6 hours on this, (and I realised that my hackatime figma extension thing wasn’t even tracking 😭), and I am quite happy with the design. I will be implementing it over the next week or so!

Here is a messy screenshot of all the design attempts I made in figma. The new ones are labelled pantry new, and it goes through a sequence to add ingredients! The other screenshot shows the overall new pantry design.

WE HAVE ART!! 🥳
@kimeowsu helped make some amazing art for the game! Doesn’t it look great?
Aside from that, @Jewelia and I added a health and hitbox system. She also added walls and floors.
Now we need to adjust the camera because, well, the game isn’t fully on screen. 😅

Devlog 3 – June 7-14, 2026

New Generator Page + LOTS of bugfixes!

As I finished work on the recipes and swiping portion of the app in the last few weeks, the next page I wanted to work on was the generation page. This page holds all the settings for generation to set before swiping. The generation page I had before was very simple and unfinished, with only a place to add ingredients… so i deleted it and started from scratch.

I started off by designing in figma and brainstorming what I wanted the page to have. I settled on 3 modes: Pantry, Select Ingredients, and Any Ingredients. For Pantry mode, the recipes are generated using all the ingredients the user has at home (will make a separate page to add ingredients to their pantry in the future). The second mode allows the user to choose specific ingredients that they want to use now in the recipe. The final mode, any ingredients, uses anything to make the best recipe! I also decided I wanted controls for difficulty, time, number of servings, cuisine and meal type (breakfast, lunch, dinner …).

Over the past week, I added all these controls with dropdowns and multi-select buttons that I created from scratch. When the user sets these settings, it modifies the input to the AI to make recipes to fit them.

Here’s a video showing off the new page!

Devlog #2
My project Ebeep is starting to take a bit more shape!
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my project is a “beeper” with an eink display (like the name suggests). ill be building two of them and gifting one to my GF on her birthday later this month!
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i rewrote almost the ENTIRE UI since last time the code i wrote was pretty bad and it had terrible UI.

hopefully tomorrow i could work on actually connecting it to the internet and work on basic end to end encryption (maybe?).
also i really hope ill get my esp32s soon so i could actually test my code on that instead of my arduino and design my 3d case for it.
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today and yesterday werent very productive since my CS finals are tomorrow! so wish me luck!

Devlog 2 – June 3-6, 2026

Another update on my recipe generator app: bugfixes, figma and images!

I first took the time to look into a few bugs I was experiencing, like the images and recipe preview disappearing briefly after loading and reappearing. The preview cards would also glitch if the make recipe button was clicked while it was swiping off screen. These were both pretty quick fixes, and I decided to clean up some code after and remove some old functions.

The next feature I wanted to add was unique images, as at the time, every recipe used the same placeholder image. I thought of using an image generator as the user swipes, but I realised that would be far too expensive and slow. Instead, I used gemini on the web to generate 10 images of different meal categories (e.g. seafood, dessert, salad…) on the same plate and removed the backgrounds, and saved them to a folder in the project.

I then made the AI that was generating the recipe also choose a recipe image category from the available images. I then replaced the placeholder to display that image! In the future, I will definitely add more specific recipe categories (100+ categories) to make the images more accurate to the recipe. I also worked on some figma designs for other parts of the app!

Here’s a little preview so far of swiping with the new images:

Devlog 1 – June 2, 2026

Updating the generation system: unique recipes!

I have been working on a recipe generator app and am currently working on the generation feature. I made swipable recipe cards that give the basic details of each recipe, and people can either choose to follow it (gives a detailed view with instructions), save it or skip it. When they swipe this card away, a new recipe is on the next card! Since joining Stardance, I have been working on modifying and redesigning how the generation works.

My first step in this was actually generating unique recipes, as, with the same inputs, the AI usually generates near-identical recipes. I have been working on adding constraints randomly added to the prompt each swipe to yield unique recipes for the same inputted ingredients!

I have three categories of constraints that get added: meal type (late night snack, high protein…), texture (crunchy, creamy…), and methods (grill, char, bake…).

Here are some screenshots of the cards and some unique recipes that were inputted the same ingredients!!!

(btw the image of the meal is just a placeholder rn)