Alright, so here’s the lowdown on how I tackled building a “multiversus player finder.” It was a fun little project, and I learned a ton along the way. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!
Phase 1: Idea and Scoping
First off, the idea came to me ’cause I was sick of hopping into Multiversus and never finding anyone decent to play with. You know, always getting matched with total noobs or salty try-hards. I wanted a way to find players with similar skill levels and playstyles.
So, the core idea was simple: create a platform where Multiversus players could list themselves, specify their preferred game modes (1v1, 2v2, the chaotic free-for-all), skill level, and maybe even their main characters. I envisioned a simple website or even a Discord bot at first.
I started by jotting down the features I thought were essential:
- Player profiles with skill level, preferred modes, and mains.
- A search function to find players based on these criteria.
- Some kind of rating or feedback system to weed out the toxic players.
Phase 2: Tech Stack and Initial Setup
Next up, I had to figure out the tech I was gonna use. I’m most comfortable with Python, so that was a no-brainer for the backend. For the frontend, I considered React or *, but ultimately decided to keep it simple and go with plain HTML, CSS, and maybe a little JavaScript.
Here’s the basic stack:
- Backend: Python (Flask or Django – went with Flask for simplicity)
- Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- Database: SQLite (again, for simplicity and easy setup)
I started by setting up a basic Flask app with a simple HTML template. Nothing fancy, just a placeholder to get things rolling. Then I created a SQLite database to store player data. The schema was pretty basic: player ID, username, skill level, preferred modes, main characters, and a brief bio.
Phase 3: Building the Core Functionality
This is where the real work began. I focused on implementing the core features:
- Player Registration: Created a form for players to enter their information and store it in the database. I used Flask-WTF for form handling, which made things a lot easier.
- Search Functionality: Implemented a search form that allowed users to filter players based on skill level, preferred modes, and main characters. The search queries were executed against the SQLite database.
- Displaying Results: Populated the search results with player profiles, showing their username, skill level, preferred modes, and mains.
This was definitely the most time-consuming part. I spent hours debugging SQL queries, tweaking the frontend layout, and generally banging my head against the wall. But eventually, I got it working! It wasn’t pretty, but it was functional.
Phase 4: Adding Some Polish (or Trying To)
Once the core functionality was in place, I started adding some polish. This included:
- Improving the UI: Added some CSS styling to make the site look less like a Geocities page from 1998.
- Implementing a basic rating system: Allowed players to rate each other after matches. This was a simple upvote/downvote system, but it helped weed out the really toxic players.
- Adding authentication: Implemented basic user authentication using Flask-Login. This allowed players to create accounts and manage their profiles.
This phase was all about making the site more user-friendly and appealing. I spent a lot of time tweaking the UI and trying to make it look halfway decent.
Phase 5: Deployment and Future Plans
Finally, I deployed the site to a simple web server (Heroku, if I remember correctly). It wasn’t perfect, but it was live!
Here’s what I learned and what I’d do differently next time:
- Simplicity is key: Starting with a simple tech stack and focusing on the core features was the right move.
- UI/UX matters: Spending more time on the user interface and user experience would have made a big difference.
- Testing is crucial: I didn’t do enough testing, and it showed. Next time, I’ll definitely write more unit tests and integration tests.
Overall, building the Multiversus player finder was a fun and educational experience. I learned a lot about web development, Python, and the importance of a good user interface. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll revisit the project and turn it into something truly awesome. For now, it’s a decent little tool that helps me find people to play Multiversus with.
Maybe it will help you too.
