Reuse is inspired from the reuse mailing list and continues to
facilitate the exchange of used items between MIT community
members. The mobile app alleviates the number of emails users receive
on the mailing list by changing the service into an opt-in system
rather than a push system: MIT community members will no longer
receive an email for every item posted and claimed, but will still be
able to view reuse items.
The app introduces the notion of claim codes, which securely
facilitates the claiming of an item. Users receive a claim code upon
posting an item that they write down and leave with the physical
item. When another user arrives to take the item, they enter the claim
code to remove the item from the reuse list. This prevents a user from
claiming an item before retrieving it to prevent others from seeing
it.
Reuse also has filtering and editing features to improve convenience
of the app for both claimers and posters, as well as a map interface
for users to view nearby items or to help find items in obscure
locations. The app uses Firebase as a data store for real-time and
persistent updates, Google Maps Activity to display item locations,
and Cloudinary for uploading item images.