Fun Scrum Games
May 01, 20242 min read
title: 'Fun Scrum Games' description: 'A playful take on Agile story pointing using WebSockets and GIFs' date: '2024-05-01' section: project cover_image: 'https://res.cloudinary.com/crbaucom/image/upload/v1733379235/crbaucom-images/funscrum-ss.jpg' tags: ['typescript', 'nextjs', 'websockets', 'nodejs']
Overview
Fun Scrum Games makes Agile story pointing sessions more engaging by combining Fibonacci-based estimation with animated GIFs. Built to address the frustration of using ad-heavy planning poker tools, this app provides a clean, fun interface for teams to vote on story points.
Technical Details
The application uses a WebSocket-based architecture:
- Backend: Node.js/Express server handling real-time WebSocket connections
- Frontend: Next.js with Chakra UI for a responsive, accessible interface
- Real-time Updates: WebSocket implementation for instant vote synchronization
- GIF Integration: Dynamic GIF fetching from Giphy API based on point values
- Persistence: LocalStorage for user preferences and favorites
Key Features
- Persistent user names across sessions
- Real-time vote tracking
- Fibonacci sequence point values (1, 2, 3, 5, 8)
- GIF reactions for each point value
- Customizable favorite GIFs for each point value
- Clean, ad-free interface
- Mobile-responsive design
Problem Solved
Traditional planning poker tools often come with intrusive ads and dated interfaces. Fun Scrum Games makes backlog refinement more engaging while maintaining the core principles of team consensus building in Agile methodologies, while adding personalization through saved usernames and favorite GIFs.
Lessons Learned
- WebSockets!
- Rate limiting and API optimization with Giphy
- Local storage strategies