Inspiration
We were inspired by classic 8-bit aesthetics and the global need for accessible currency conversion tools. We wanted to build something playful yet practical — a nostalgic twist on financial tech that makes exchange rates feel approachable and intuitive, especially for casual travelers, students, or gamers trading across currencies.
What it does
8 Bit Currency Conversion is a web app that allows users to: Instantly convert between dozens of world currencies. View historical exchange rate trends — limited to USD, EUR, and AUD for accuracy and clarity. Explore intuitive visualizations using interactive charts. It’s a simple, focused tool that gives users essential insights without overwhelming them.
How we built it
Frontend: React with react-select, recharts for the interactive chart, and modern hooks for state and effect management. Backend: Flask API serving exchange rates and historical data using external APIs. Data Handling: Custom logic to filter out incomplete historical data and only display clean, reliable results. Styling: A retro-inspired UI theme to give it an 8-bit look and feel (optional based on how far you went with styling).
Challenges we ran into
API Limitations: We discovered that the historical data provider only supports a limited set of currencies, which forced us to restrict the chart to USD, EUR, and AUD. Dynamic UI Logic: Managing two different sets of currency options (for conversion vs. charting) without breaking reusable components like CurrencySelect. Error Handling: Ensuring a smooth user experience even when some data points were missing or failed to load from the API.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Built a fully functional currency converter and chart visualizer from scratch. Designed a user-friendly interface that handles data inconsistencies gracefully. Created a reusable component system with minimal redundancy across views. Delivered a responsive, interactive app with both practical and educational value.
What we learned
How to integrate real-time and historical financial APIs. The importance of separating concerns between frontend logic and backend validation. How to build a more resilient frontend that adapts to API quirks or incomplete data. Techniques for keeping components reusable while meeting different UI constraints.
What's next for 8 Bit Currency Conversion
More Historical Support: Add additional currency pairs once the API supports more reliable data. User Input: Allow users to select a date range for custom historical charting. Offline Mode: Cache recent conversions for offline access. Dark Mode / Full 8-bit Theme: Add a toggle for retro game-style aesthetics. Mobile App: Port the project to React Native for mobile users on the go.
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