Intro

Highschool is a personalized flashcard learning platform built specifically for students to master knowledge through spaced repetition.

From the very beginning, the product was designed with a UX-first mindset — intuitive, distraction-free, and optimized for both engagement and discoverability. It’s more than just a study tool; it’s a habit-forming companion for exam preparation.

I was the sole frontend developer on the project, collaborating closely with the product team to bring the vision to life. Together, we transformed the concept into a fully responsive, scalable learning platform.

Challenge

The primary audience was high school students — typically mobile-first users with short attention spans and varying academic needs.

We needed to deliver a focused, engaging learning experience while efficiently handling thousands of flashcards per subject.

SEO was also a crucial pillar for organic user acquisition, which meant performance and content discoverability had to be built into the foundation.

The spaced repetition engine had to feel seamless — helping students retain information effectively without introducing unnecessary complexity.

What We Did

• Built the entire frontend using Next.js, TailwindCSS, and a monorepo setup to ensure fast, clean, and responsive UI across devices
• Integrated FSRS v5, the same advanced spaced repetition algorithm used in Anki, and tailored it to adapt to each student’s memory curve
• Designed a clean, distraction-free card interface with smooth review flow and dynamic difficulty adjustment
• Implemented personalized flashcard sets, category-based filtering, progress tracking, and smart review queues
• Followed an SEO-first architecture, including structured metadata, dynamic sitemaps, server-side rendering, and resource preloading
• Embedded analytics to monitor learning patterns and continuously improve scheduling based on actual user behavior

Stack & Tools

• Next.js 15 with App Router
• React 19, TypeScript, and TailwindCSS
• FSRS v5 algorithm implemented in TypeScript
• Fully integrated with backend APIs for content, scheduling, and user tracking

Outcome

• Delivered the MVP within 4 weeks, launching to beta testers at selected high schools
• Reached over 1,500 unique users organically within the first three months
• Improved average keyword rankings to 1.5 for core topics, driving steady traffic from Google
• Saw meaningful improvements in flashcard review efficiency and memory retention thanks to FSRS integration

What We Learned

This project taught me what it truly means to design for learning at scale. It’s not just about building features — it’s about removing friction and enhancing focus.

I gained a much deeper understanding of spaced repetition theory, and how algorithms like FSRS can be brought to life through thoughtful frontend logic.

And above all, I learned that clarity is the key to habit — the more focused and calm the experience, the more likely users are to stick with it.

Final Thoughts

Highschool isn’t just another flashcard app. It’s a carefully engineered learning assistant — built with scientific principles, clean design, and student-centered UX. I’m proud to have helped build its foundation, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.