Pombo (Astra)
Schedule management web platform for Software Engineering students at University of Minho.
Overview
Pombo is a comprehensive schedule management platform designed specifically for Software Engineering students at the University of Minho. Developed in collaboration with the course presidency (faculty leadership), it serves as the central hub for students to manage their academic calendars, including class schedules, test dates, presentation deadlines, and other important academic events.
This project represents a significant vote of confidence from the university's faculty in CAOS's technical capabilities and professionalism, entrusting us with a critical piece of academic infrastructure.
Impact
Pombo has become an essential tool in the daily lives of Software Engineering students:
- Thousands of visits per month from active student users
- 95,000 visits in February 2026 - approaching 100K monthly visits!
- Critical infrastructure for academic planning and organization
- Trusted by students for keeping track of exams, assignments, and presentations
My Contribution
As a member of CAOS (CeSIUM's Technology Department), I contributed to Astra, the frontend repository powering Pombo:
- Frontend Development: Implemented user interface components and features
- User Experience: Worked on making the platform intuitive and accessible for students
- Active Maintenance: Ongoing contributions to improve functionality and fix issues
Technical Stack
- Framework: Next.js with TypeScript
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Deployment: Fly.io
- Architecture: Frontend-focused work as part of a larger application
Key Features
- Academic Calendar: Comprehensive view of class schedules and important dates
- Test Tracking: Dates and information for exams and assessments
- Presentation Management: Deadlines and details for academic presentations
- Student-Focused: Tailored specifically to the needs of Software Engineering students
- Real-time Updates: Always up-to-date information on academic events
Challenges & Learning
Working on a high-traffic application serving thousands of students taught me:
- Scale considerations: Building interfaces that perform well under heavy load
- User-centric design: Creating tools that fit into students' daily workflows
- Team collaboration: Contributing to a larger codebase with multiple developers
- Production reliability: Writing code that thousands of students depend on daily