Two days before the workshop, we had an idea: why don't we create a collaboration platform? It started as a quick prototype and ended up becoming a full-fledged collaboration tool with real-time features, 3D visualization, and team management. We were working with a tight deadline and a small budget, so we used AI to help us develop it. The result was a successful collaboration platform for the ICE2025 workshop in Sri Lanka.
The AI-Powered Development Journey
Using GitHub Copilot, we finished the project in just a few days instead of a few weeks. It handled the basic coding, which let us focus on building the key features: a real-time chat with Socket.io, 3D venue visualization with Three.js, and an intelligent scheduling system that could detect conflicts. Copilot was a huge help, suggesting the best code and practices we might have overlooked. For example, when building the chat feature, it recommended the most efficient way to handle messages. For more complex parts like scheduling and conflict detection, the AI suggestions turned days of work into just a few hours.
ICE2025 workshop highlights
Technology Stack and Architecture
We built the platform using modern technology for top performance. The front end was made with Nuxt.js 3 and TypeScript, while the back end used Node.js with Express. We used Supabase for our database, which also handled user authentication. Socket.io powered the real-time features, and Three.js brought the 3D visualizations to life. Everything was hosted on Vercel to ensure it was fast for users everywhere.
What was truly amazing was how GitHub Copilot helped us do this so quickly. It constantly suggested modern coding patterns, ways to handle errors, and performance improvements. Because of this, our platform could easily handle over 150 users at the same time. The development process felt like a collaboration between us and the AI; we focused on the user experience while Copilot handled the nitty-gritty details.
Unprecedented Cost Efficiency
One of the best things about this project was how cheap it was to run, costing us only $11 for the entire year. We paid $10 for the domain name, and everything else was free. We used free plans from Supabase for the database, Vercel for hosting, and Socket.io for real-time features. We even got free SSL certificates automatically. This meant our monthly cost was an amazing 92 cents.
We didn't cut any corners to save money. This project shows how modern tools, cloud platforms, and AI can make powerful technology accessible to everyone. Now, small teams and individual developers can build complex apps that used to require big budgets and huge teams.
Impact and Future of AI-Assisted Development
The ICE2025 platform successfully brought together over 150 participants for several workshops. The real-time features were a big hit for breakout sessions and networking, and the 3D venue helped everyone get around easily. With GitHub Copilot, we cut down the development time by about 60% and had fewer bugs, thanks to its suggestions for best practices and consistent code.
This project proved that AI tools are more than just coding assistants—they let small teams take on big projects and deliver professional applications in record time. When human creativity for design and user experience is combined with AI efficiency, it creates a powerful partnership that is changing how we build software.
Want to learn more about AI-assisted development? Check out our other posts on building with modern tools and techniques.