Open Sourcing My Personal Solo Leveling Inspired App: Level Up

"I was drowning in life with no direction. Then I watched Solo Leveling, and something clicked."

As an engineering student, the weight of my coursework and lack of internship opportunities was suffocating. Every assignment/week/interview felt like an unbeatable boss fight, leading to endless procrastination and anxiety. Then I watched Solo Leveling: an anime where the protagonist gains a "System" that turns his life into a video game with daily quests, stats, and level-ups.

"What if I built that System for myself?"

I built LevelUp: AI Awakening to fight my real-world monsters: exams, lack of discipline, and the fear of failure. By turning intimidating tasks into XP-yielding "quests" with real penalties for procrastination, I gamified my way out of my rut. Now, I'm open-sourcing it so you can level up, too.

Live App: levelup.bigdas.com

GitHub: https://github.com/oniondas/Levelup-app

(Note: This app is completely free, ad-free, and open-source. I do not make any money if you use it)

Because LevelUp is a digital tool, you don't need any physical materials like soldering irons or 3D printers. You just need a few free digital supplies to get started.

1. A Smartphone or Computer with a modern web browser (Google Chrome or Safari recommended).
2. A Google Gemini API Key (Free): grabbing a free key from Google AI Studio unlocks the AI Mentor and automatic quest generation.

For Developers (Self-Hosting/Modifying):

1. Node.js & npm: Installed on your machine (Download here).
2. Code Editor: Visual Studio Code is highly recommended.
3. GitHub Account: To clone or fork the repository.

LevelUp is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that uses Google's Gemini AI to turn real-life challenges into an RPG. It generates personalized daily quests, tracks your progress across multiple skill trees, and rewards you with XP, credits, and loot.

Features at a Glance

1. AI-Powered Quest Generation: Gemini AI creates daily quests tailored to your goals and weak areas
2. 4-Realm Stat System: Track progress across Mind, Body, Creation, and Spirit
3. Skill Trees: Add skills with custom XP scaling, track knowledge topics
4. Major Goals (Boss Fights): Set deadlines with real XP/credit penalties for failure
5. Streak System: Daily streak bonuses that compound your XP rewards
6. Daily Lootbox: Randomized daily rewards with streak-scaled bonuses
7. In-App Store: Buy XP buffs and real-world rewards with earned credits
8. Credit Staking: Stake credits for passive buff generation
9. Badges & Achievements: Unlock milestones as you progress
10. Story Log & Journal: AI-generated narrative of your journey + reflection journals
11. Built-in Timer: Pomodoro-style timed quests
12. Analytics Dashboard: Visualize your XP, activity heatmaps, and weekly progress
13. Offline-First: All data saved locally — no account needed, fully private

The fastest way to start using LevelUp is to use it directly in your browser and install it to your home screen like a native app.

For Android (Google Chrome):

1. Open the app in Google Chrome: go to levelup.bigdas.com
2. Tap the three dots (⋮) menu in the top-right corner of Chrome
3. Tap "Add to Home Screen" or "Install app"
4. Give it a name (or keep "LevelUp") and tap Add
5. The app now appears on your home screen and launches in full screen — just like a real app!

For iPhone (Safari):

1. Open the app in Safari (not Chrome!): go to levelup.bigdas.com
2. Tap the Share button (the square with an upward arrow) at the bottom
3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
4. Tap Add
5. Done! It now opens as a full-screen standalone app

For Desktop:

1. Open levelup.bigdas.com in Chrome or Edge
2. Click the install icon in the address bar (or go to Menu → "Install LevelUp")
3. The app now runs in its own window

Tip: All your data is saved locally on your device — nothing is sent to any server. Your progress is 100% private.

When you first launch the app:

1. Enter your API Key:
2. Get a free Gemini API key at aistudio.google.com
3. The app will prompt you for it on first launch
4. Your API key is stored locally on your device only *it is never collected or sent anywhere
5. You can skip this step, but AI quest generation and AI chat won't work without it
6. Enter your Player Name: Choose how you want to be identified in the System
7. Set up your State (Settings → My State):
8. Define your Core Mission
9. Set Long-term Goals, Short-term Goals, and Emergency Goals
10. This context is fed to the AI so it generates relevant quests for YOU

Your character's growth is tracked across four primary realms, inspired by a holistic approach to self-improvement:

1. Mind: Studying and gaining knowledge
2. Body: Fitness and physical health
3. Creation: Building and executing projects
4. Spirit: Mental well-being and reflection

All of these areas feed into your total overall progress. When you hit the Sync AI button, the system evaluates your levels across all four realms and adapts. It specifically generates quests to balance your growth, ensuring you do not just grind one area and neglect the others.

Major Goals are your biggest fears turned into conquerable challenges. These are the exams, the projects, the deadlines that keep you up at night.

Three Types:

1. Siege (Exams / Tests): For example, "Microprocessor Final Exam"
2. Forge (Projects / Builds): For example, "Complete IoT Weather Station"
3. Gauntlet (Hackathons / Competitions): For example, "48-hour AI Hackathon"

The Skill Tree is where LevelUp shines as a learning tool.

How it works:

1. Add a Skill (e.g., "Machine Learning", "Mobility", "Circuit Design")
2. Each skill belongs to a Realm and has an XP Scale (1.0x to 2.5x)
3. Add Knowledge Topics to each skill (e.g., "Convolutional Neural Networks")
4. Each topic has a difficulty rating that determines its XP value
5. As you learn topics, your skill levels up automatically

Topic XP Values:

1. Easy: 25 XP
2. Medium: 50 XP
3. Hard: 100 XP
4. SuperHard: 200 XP

AI-Powered Topic Generation:

1. Click "AI Generate" on any skill to have Gemini suggest topics to learn
2. The AI can also break down a Major Goal's syllabus into individual topics automatically

Here's where it gets interesting. Every mechanic in LevelUp is driven by real mathematical formulas. Here's the full breakdown:

1. Overall Leveling Algorithm

The XP required to level up increases exponentially using a 1.5x multiplier:

Base value: Level 1 requires 130 XP.

1. Level 1: 130 XP to Next Level (0 Cumulative XP)
2. Level 2: 195 XP to Next Level (130 Cumulative XP)
3. Level 3: 292 XP to Next Level (325 Cumulative XP)
4. Level 4: 438 XP to Next Level (617 Cumulative XP)
5. Level 5: 657 XP to Next Level (1,055 Cumulative XP)
6. Level 10: 4,996 XP to Next Level (9,590 Cumulative XP)
7. Level 15: 38,015 XP to Next Level (73,607 Cumulative XP)
8. Level 20: 289,277 XP to Next Level (560,050 Cumulative XP)

The exponential curve means early levels are achievable quickly, but mastery requires sustained effort — mirroring real skill development.

2. Skill Leveling Algorithm

Each skill has its own level, tracked independently. Skills use a 1.2x multiplier with an XP Scale factor:

Base value: Level 1 of any skill = floor(100 × xpScale) XP

The XP Scale makes complex skills require more XP per level:

1. Mobility (1.0x Scale): 100 XP to Level 2 | ~207 XP to Level 5
2. IoT & Connectivity (1.6x Scale): 160 XP to Level 2 | ~331 XP to Level 5
3. Microprocessors (2.0x Scale): 200 XP to Level 2 | ~414 XP to Level 5
4. Machine Learning (2.5x Scale): 250 XP to Level 2 | ~518 XP to Level 5

Skills level up automatically as you learn Knowledge Topics tied to that skill.

3. Streak & Reward Multiplier System

The streak system rewards consistency — every day you complete at least one quest extends your streak:

Example: If you have a 20-day streak and earn 100 base XP:

Additionally, Active Buffs (from the store or lootbox) can further multiply XP:

A 2x "Omni-Boost" buff with a 20-day streak on 100 base XP:

That's 2.4x the base value — a massive incentive for consistency!

4. Daily Lootbox Probability Distribution

The Daily Payload (lootbox) uses weighted random drops with streak bonuses:

1. Credits (50% chance): Roll 0.00–0.49 | Amount: 25-75
2. XP (25% chance): Roll 0.50–0.74 | Amount: 25-75
3. Gems (Rare - 10% chance): Roll 0.75–0.84 | Amount: 1-2 (+1 per 10 streak)
4. Item (Epic - 15% chance): Roll 0.85–1.00 | Amount: Random store item

At a 50-day streak, the streak multiplier caps at 2.0x — so a base 75 credit reward becomes 150 credits!

5. Penalty System

Missing a deadline triggers penalties to create real stakes:

For Major Goals, penalties are configured manually but follow the same principle, penalties can be:

1. XP penalty: XP is subtracted from your total (can cause de-leveling)
2. Credit penalty: Credits are deducted from your wallet

De-leveling calculation:

The system then recalculates your level from scratch. Yes, you can actually lose levels. That's the point — real consequences create real motivation to face the tasks you've been avoiding.

6. Staking System

You can stake credits for passive returns:

1. Lock credits for a set period
2. Earn interest on your staked amount
3. Higher stakes and longer periods = better returns

This teaches basic financial thinking while keeping the in-app economy engaging.

7. Ranking Hierarchy

Your overall level determines your rank:

1. Level 1: E-Rank Apprentice
2. Level 6: D-Rank Disciplined Learner
3. Level 11: C-Rank Focused Engineer
4. Level 21: B-Rank Builder of Systems
5. Level 31: A-Rank Awakened Creator
6. Level 41: S-Rank Polymath

The ranks mirror the Solo Leveling hunter ranks — and reaching S-Rank requires serious dedication (you'd need over 5 million cumulative XP to reach level 41!).

8. Badge Unlock Conditions

1. Level 10: Reach overall level 10
2. Level 25: Reach overall level 25
3. First Step: Complete your first quest
4. Quest Novice: Complete 10 quests
5. Quest Adept: Complete 50 quests
6. Boss Slayer: Complete a Boss Quest or Major Goal
7. Mind Adept: Reach level 5 in a Mind skill
8. Body Adept: Reach level 5 in a Body skill
9. Creation Adept: Reach level 5 in a Creation skill
10. Spirit Adept: Reach level 5 in a Spirit skill

You can also create custom badges through the system!

For those curious about the technical design, the application operates on a local-first, serverless loop to keep your data fast and private.

1. User Input (React UI)
2. Gemini AI Service: Breaks down goals and generates bite-sized quests.
3. Leveling Engine: Calculates XP, lootbox drops, and streak multipliers.
4. Local Storage (Browser): Saves progress locally with no cloud data harvesting.

All state lives in React hooks in App.tsx, with debounced autosave (1 second delay) to localStorage. No database, no server, no accounts — fully private and offline-capable.

How This Pulled Me Out

Before LevelUp:

1. I avoided studying hard topics for days, sometimes weeks
2. I had no system for tracking what I actually learned
3. I procrastinated because big goals felt insurmountable
4. I had no idea how much progress I was actually making

After LevelUp:

1. Every hard topic became a "quest" — smaller, actionable, and rewarding
2. The penalty system meant I couldn't just ignore deadlines
3. My skill tree showed me exactly how much I'd learned
4. The daily streak kept me consistent even on days I didn't feel like it
5. Setting exams as "Major Goals" with big XP rewards made them something to chase, not dread

The core insight: The things we avoid thrive on ambiguity. When you turn an overwhelming task into a quantified quest with clear steps, a deadline, and a reward — it stops being paralyzing and starts being a challenge. And challenges are just games you haven't won yet.

Customization and Extension

LevelUp is designed to be highly customizable:

1. Custom Skills: Add any skill with any XP scale
2. Custom Topics: Track whatever you're learning
3. Custom Store Items: Create your own buffs and real-world rewards
4. Custom Badges: Define your own achievement criteria
5. Custom Story Arcs: Create themed periods (Exam mode, Fitness sprint, etc.)
6. Data Export/Import: Full backup and restore via JSON

The AI adapts to your state and goals — so two people using the same app will get completely different quest sets.

LevelUp: AI Awakening is more than an app — it's a philosophy. By gamifying the difficult and uncomfortable tasks in our lives, we transform avoidance into action. Every quest completed is a step forward. Every level gained is proof you're stronger than yesterday.

“I tend to get stronger when I fight.” — Sung Jin-Woo

Build it. Use it. Level up.

Live App: levelup.bigdas.com

GitHub: https://github.com/oniondas/Levelup-app

(Note: This app is completely free, ad-free, and open-source. I do not make any money if you use it)