This is a submission for the MLH x DEV Writing Challenge
What I Built
SlothSort AI: Organizing Files Without the Fear of Losing Them
My downloads folder can become a mess surprisingly quickly. Documents end up beside images, videos get mixed with random files, and finding one particular item takes longer than it should.
I wanted to explore a simple question: what if organizing files started with understanding what they are, instead of immediately moving everything around?
That idea led me to SlothSort AI, a file-organization project built around a safer workflow.
SlothSort AI categorizes files into groups such as Documents, Images, Videos, and Archives. The goal is to make a cluttered collection easier to understand without automatically moving or deleting the user's files.
I wanted the tool to help with the boring part of file management while leaving the user in control.
How It Works
The current application uses file information, including file extensions, to assign files to categories.
The workflow is straightforward:
Provide file names for the application to process.
Let the application identify their file types and categories.
Review the resulting groups.
Use that information to make file collections easier to manage.
One design decision matters to me: categorization should not mean that an application gets permission to rearrange or delete someone's files automatically.
Keeping that distinction makes the idea safer and easier to understand.
What I Learned
One thing this project reminded me of is that a useful tool does not always need to perform a dramatic action to be valuable.
Sometimes, the first useful step is simply making information easier to understand. Categorization, a clear interface, and a predictable workflow can solve part of a frustrating problem without taking control away from the user.
I also learned to distinguish between what an application already does and what I would like it to do next. An idea can have room to grow without pretending that every planned feature is already finished.
There is still room to improve SlothSort AI, especially in making the workflow more useful for larger collections and exploring smarter categorization options.
Demo
https://slothsort-ai-4ctucnjvgaqubsivd3kore.streamlit.app/
Partner Technologies
The current implementation uses Python and Streamlit for the application.
I have also explored the possibility of integrating Ollama and open-weight models into the project. That is an area I would like to develop further, but I do not want to claim a working model integration until it has been implemented and tested.
I believe it is important to be clear about the difference between a working feature and a future direction.
Hackathon Experience
Hacktoberfest 2026 has been quite a journey for me. I started the month excited to build and explore, but what made it special was having something new to work on each week and seeing how much I could learn along the way.
I completed all the weekly DEV challenges, from the Weekend Challenge, Build for a Friend, through Week 1, Touch Grass, Week 2, Side Hustle, Week 3, Slow and Steady, and Week 4, Ghost in the Machine.
Each challenge brought a different theme and gave me another reason to experiment, think creatively, and keep building. Completing the entire challenge series felt rewarding because it was not just about finishing tasks; it was about staying consistent throughout the month.
During this journey, I also worked on SlothSort AI, a project focused on making file organization simpler and more manageable. Building it reminded me that even a straightforward idea involves decisions about usability, implementation, and how the final experience will feel for someone using it.
One of my favourite memories was attending a live session during Hacktoberfest. Learning in real time and feeling connected to a community of people who enjoy building things made the experience more personal. It was a reminder that being a developer is not only about working alone on code; it is also about learning from others and sharing the excitement of creating something new.
Looking back, completing all the weekly DEV challenges is something I am genuinely happy about. The stickers are a nice reminder of the progress, but the bigger takeaway is the consistency, curiosity, and motivation I gained throughout the month.
Hacktoberfest 2026 has been a valuable learning experience, and I am looking forward to carrying that momentum into my next project.
Thank You.
