This weekend, I challenged myself with a side project: building a custom memory game using my own photos. No templates, no pre-built tools—just ChatGPT, some React code, and a lot of trial and error.
How I Built It
-
Started with a basic React framework and card-flip logic
-
Plugged in 5 of my personal photos as the default card set
-
Added a feature for users to upload their own 5 photos (stored locally on their device, not uploaded to a server)
-
Integrated relaxing background music that auto-plays when the game starts
-
Resized and compressed images for better performance and faster loading
-
Deployed the game to my own hosting so I could easily share it
What Went Well (and What Didn’t)
-
The core game logic came together quickly
-
Customizing the design and music gave it a personal feel
-
Image handling was the toughest challenge—initially broke the build and slowed performance. The solution was switching to hosted image links
-
Debugging took the most time—mostly small syntax issues and environment hiccups, which ChatGPT helped me resolve in real time
Time Breakdown
-
Building and Debugging: Approximately 2 hours
-
Deployment: Approximately 30 minutes
Key Takeaway
You don’t need to be a full-time developer to bring a creative idea to life. With a bit of persistence—and a lot of iterative debugging—anyone can build something meaningful and fun. ChatGPT made the process collaborative, fast, and surprisingly empowering.
