Lingyi Zhou
Portfolio Website
 All My Works
I believe my strong interest in developing for better productivity is a guiding force in all my work. Explore my complete portfolio to see how I combine technical expertise with creative problem-solving across all disciplines. Full Stack Engineer
I have hands-on experience building online games, AR experiences, web apps, and mobile apps. Throughout my career—especially at Snapchat and Moviebill—I've developed numerous internal tools that streamlined development and accelerated creative workflows. Game Developer
I'm passionate about designing unique mechanics and interactions. From indie narrative games to physics-based prototypes, I've built games that explore both emotional storytelling and technical creativity. 3D Designer
I'm experienced in both industrial design for custom 3D-printed parts that solve real-life problems, and digital modeling for game assets. Graphic Designer
I'm experienced in designing exhibition materials, marketing collateral, packaging, and more. XR Developer
I create immersive AR and VR experiences that push the boundaries of interactive technology, combining my full-stack development skills with cutting-edge spatial computing.

Hardware Store Search Tool

A modern web application that helps users find hardware stores near any location using Google Maps API. Built with a React frontend and FastAPI backend, deployed on GitHub Pages and Railway with PostgreSQL database integration.

Live App | GitHub Repo

Tech Stack

  • Frontend: React, Leaflet, CSS, GitHub Pages
  • Backend: FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Google Maps API, Railway
  • Database: PostgreSQL
  • Languages: JavaScript, Python
  • Client: James Hardware
Version 3.0 Demo Video   

Key Features

  • Smart Search: Location-based lookup with real-time store results
  • Deduplication: Filter repeated stores like "Home Depot"
  • Intelligent Caching: Cache results for 1 month to improve speed
  • Bulk Search: Drop a pin, select a radius, get stores live in real-time
  • AI Integration: Generate company analysis and cold emails using Perplexity API
  • Streaming Support: Streaming bulk results within selected map radius
  • Responsive UI: Works beautifully across devices, with smooth animations and error states
  • Analytics: Track most searched cities, search frequency, and cache hit rates
 Version 1.0 Demo Video   

System Architecture

Store Search Flow

  • User enters a location
  • Frontend sends a request to FastAPI backend
  • Backend geocodes the address, calls Google Places API
  • Results streamed live to frontend with progress bar
  • Results are cached and saved to PostgreSQL for faster future queries

AI Analysis & Email Flow

  • User clicks "Analyze Company" → Calls backend with store details
  • Backend uses Perplexity API to analyze and return strategic insights
  • User can generate a cold email draft customized to that store
  • Fallback to templates if AI is unavailable

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