terincorp.com

Don Mclaire C. Gonzales

IT student · Batangas, Philippines

A problem is
an invitation
to build.

I build web and mobile applications using AI-assisted development. My goal is to pursue cybersecurity, bringing that development experience into understanding vulnerabilities and building safer systems.

Explore my workTry the interactive demos

Ideas put to work.

Why I built them. What I contributed.
Where they are today.

BasCal

01Adaptive calculus learning

Locally hosted · Successfully defended

Turning an academic research framework into a learning platform, with 12 calculus modules, adaptive quizzes, and student progress analytics.

What I learned

I learned to compare forum examples, keep notes, and adapt solutions to my own application instead of assuming an example would work unchanged.

Solo developer · AI-assisted development

  • Node.js
  • Express
  • MySQL
  • Perplexity API
View case studySource code

June–July 2026

BasCal module editor with the AI quiz generator and difficulty selector open
Read the project story

The brief

BasCal was commissioned for a professor’s master’s thesis at Batangas State University. I translated the research requirements into student and educator workflows rather than independently originating the research framework.

The application

The platform covers differentiation and integration through 12 modules, adaptive quizzes, learning materials, and progress analytics across five mathematical proficiency strands. Educators can manage content and review generated quizzes.

The challenge

AI integration and incorrectly displayed mathematical equations were the hardest parts. Quiz generation needed both usable output and readable calculus notation.

How I approached it

I researched forum discussions, took notes on other developers’ solutions, and adapted relevant approaches to my application. The quiz workflow supports LaTeX notation for mathematical expressions.

Delivery and feedback

I developed the system with AI-assisted programming, hosted it locally, and used ngrok to make it accessible during the successful defense. The professor appreciated the features and told me, “Nak, maraming salamat ha.” This feedback reflects the delivery experience; learning outcomes were not measured here.

SafeTap

02Campus safety & evacuation accountability

Deployed · Operational use not yet tested

Connecting campus identification with classroom attendance and emergency accountability, including live check-ins and offline scan queues.

What I learned

I learned to research hosting services and their constraints before choosing a deployment approach, keeping cost in mind alongside connectivity and application requirements.

Solo developer · AI-assisted development

  • JavaScript
  • Node.js
  • Express
  • Socket.IO
  • MySQL
View case studySource codeVisit application

October 2026

SafeTap administrator evacuation overview with building and floor accountability panels
Read the project story

Why I built it

New campus identification cards and my DRRM responsibilities prompted a question: could campus identity also support student accountability during an evacuation? I proposed SafeTap for Web Systems and Technologies.

The application

SafeTap combines class attendance, emergency event check-ins, live arrival counts, unaccounted-student lists, offline scan queues, audit records, and exportable reports for administrators and class representatives.

The challenge

Deployment, NFC and QR identification, and the floor-plan interface required the most research. I explored free service options to reduce the cost of making the application accessible.

Technical decisions

The system combines Express, MySQL, and Socket.IO. NFC support depends on a compatible device and browser over HTTPS; QR and other identification methods provide alternatives. The floor view is a schematic reference, rather than a to-scale building plan.

Current status and feedback

The application is deployed, but it has not been used for actual campus operations or an emergency. Some friends liked the interface; this is informal peer feedback, with operational validation still ahead.

Security decisions

I implemented salted scrypt password hashing, expiring sessions, HttpOnly and SameSite cookies, CSRF tokens, login-attempt limits, server-side role checks, and parameterized database writes. API tests include missing-CSRF and unauthorized-role scenarios. These are implemented controls, rather than a completed penetration test or a guarantee of security.

Security work still ahead

Production cookie and HTTPS settings need deployment verification. Student-directory visibility needs a least-privilege review to confirm which records each role requires. Operational security validation remains a separate milestone before actual campus use.

PITS

03Public infrastructure transparency

Presented and defended · UI refinement

Exploring how project maps, budget records, evidence review, and citizen reporting can make public infrastructure information easier to scrutinize.

What I learned

Building PITS helped me practice basic Python concepts and file handling while connecting them to an application with multiple user roles.

Solo developer · AI-assisted development

  • Python
  • Kivy
  • KivyMD
  • MySQL
  • OpenStreetMap
View case studySource code

November–December 2025

PITS desktop interface showing project budgets, progress, and evidence awaiting administrator verification
Read the project story

The motivation

PITS explores how organized infrastructure records, budgets, progress, and evidence can support public scrutiny. A suspected ghost-project report is a concern for review, not proof of wrongdoing.

Administrator workflows

Administrators can verify or reject uploads, delete projects with double confirmation, clear the database, review audit logs and system statistics, and export CSV reports.

Moderator workflows

Moderators create projects with materials, labor, and equipment budgets; upload progress photos, engineer statements, and budget reports; update progress and status; and set project GPS coordinates. BudgetTracker provides safe, warning, critical, and exceeded states before new costs are logged.

Citizen workflows

Public users can search and filter projects, browse a progress-colored map and document galleries, comment on and like updates, report suspected ghost projects, and export project lists. Registration includes email, username-availability, and password-strength validation.

The interface challenge

Achieving the interface I wanted with Kivy was difficult at my level of experience. I chose a simpler UI so I could complete the core workflows. This was a tradeoff in my implementation, rather than a claim that Python or Kivy cannot support richer interfaces.

Presentation and feedback

After I presented and defended the project, my professor liked the concept and recommended more work on the UI. The listed workflows are implemented in the academic desktop prototype; public deployment and real-world adoption are not claimed.

Try the idea.
See the difference.

A SafeTap interaction demo.
Fictional students. Everything stays in this page.

Connection lost.
Check-ins continue.

Tap a student to record an arrival. Switch offline, record another, then reconnect to synchronize the queue.

Record arrivalQueue if offlineSync on reconnect

A queued arrival is recorded on this device. It joins the shared count after synchronization.

Explore SafeTap’s actual workflows
Demo online
0 / 4

Synced arrivals0 queued on this device · 4 awaiting

Choose a student to check in

  • Alex RiveraAwaiting check-in
  • Sam CruzAwaiting check-in
  • Jamie ReyesAwaiting check-in
  • Taylor SantosAwaiting check-in

Loading interactive controls…

Recent activity

No check-ins yet.

Small beginnings.
Wider questions.

Starting with Grade 12 projects,
then exploring different kinds of responsibility.

Project dates trace the work so far. Event approval, live adoption, and physical hardware validation are separate milestones.

  1. March 2024 · Grade 12RFID Attendance

    Connect the physical and digital.

    Learning JavaScript and server basics through an attendance prototype that earned the Best in Innovation Award in 2024.

  2. 2024 · Grade 12Coin Sorter & Counter

    Coordinate a physical build.

    Leading the class build and arranging help to adapt a purchased 3D model for Philippine coins.

  3. November–December 2025PITS

    Make information reviewable.

    Practicing Python and file handling through infrastructure records, budgets, evidence review, and public project browsing.

  4. June–July 2026BasCal

    Build for an academic brief.

    A commissioned calculus platform, with lessons in AI integration, mathematical notation, and research-led workflows.

  5. July–August 2026DRRM Alert Automation

    Investigate the delivery constraints.

    A working n8n workflow whose intended announcement channel remains an unresolved integration milestone.

  6. September 2026 · PreparationHyperLink VI

    Prepare challenges for others.

    An 18-challenge bank and successful verifier run. Event paperwork and approval are still pending.

  7. October 2026SafeTap

    Build around campus safety.

    Researching deployment, NFC, QR, and schematic floor views for a deployed application awaiting actual operational use.

  8. Started October 2026Silong Hamuros

    Plan software and hardware together.

    Leading features in a six-member team, with a functional Android prototype and physical hardware testing still ahead.

Security review history.

Findings, follow-up work,
and evidence of progress.

Current entries are review items and planned hardening. Confirmed vulnerabilities and verified fixes will be recorded with their versions and validation results, preserving the original findings.

SafeTap

  • Verify deployed session settings

    · Needs review

    Secure cookies are configurable in the server. The deployed HTTPS and cookie configuration needs confirmation.

    View review record

  • Review student-directory access

    · Needs review

    Authenticated users receive the student directory. Review the operational requirements to determine the records each role needs.

    View review record

Silong Hamuros

  • Plan production credential management

    · Hardening planned

    The prototype separates app and device credentials. Token rotation, revocation, and API rate limiting remain production milestones.

    View review record

Where I started.

Grade 12 projects in hardware integration,
design adaptation, and teamwork.

RFID Attendance Monitoring

Hardware & database integration

An RFID attendance-in/out system I completed during Grade 12, connecting an ESP8266 and PN532 reader with a local PC database through a phone hotspot.

Grade 12 project

Completed · Best in Innovation Award

What I learned

This project helped me learn coding and JavaScript by connecting a web application to a concrete attendance-recording task.

More about this project

I completed this project during Grade 12 and received the Best in Innovation Award for it. It brought together physical identification hardware, network connectivity, and database-backed attendance records—an early step in my experience building complete systems.

Completed March 2024 · Best in Innovation Award, 2024

View case study
RFID attendance hardware assembly with an ESP8266 board, PN532 NFC module, and breadboard wiring
Grade 12 project · Hardware assembly

Automated Coin Sorter & Counter

Hardware prototyping · 3D-printed design adaptation

Leading a Grade 12 class build and coordinating adaptation of a purchased coin-sorter model for Philippine coins, with motor-driven sorting and sensor-based counting.

Primary build contributor & team lead · Class project

Completed class prototype · Grade 12

What I learned

I learned that assigned teams need regular updates so their individual tasks stay connected to the overall build.

More about this project

I arranged help to adjust the purchased 3D model for Philippine coins, took a primary role in the physical build, and coordinated the class teams.

Completed 2024 · Grade 12 class project

View case study
Coin sorter prototype electronics with a controller board, DC motor, wiring, and illuminated components
Grade 12 class project · Prototype electronics

Still taking shape.

Prototypes, team work, and questions
I'm continuing to explore.

Silong Hamuros

IoT-based coffee drying & digital monitoring

A six-member team project with a functional Android prototype for coffee-drying monitoring, batch records, weather advisories, and control workflows. Physical hardware testing is still ahead.

Project Manager · Main Project Feature Lead · Application Feature Lead · Team project

Functional Android prototype · Hardware pending

What I learned

I gained experience planning how monitoring, device freshness, faults, and control requests should fit together, while keeping implemented software separate from untested hardware behavior.

More about this project

Implemented Android workflows include monitoring, batch tracking, charts, guarded cover controls, local storage, and hardware-independent weather forecasts. No physical prototype has been built.

Started October 2026 · Six-member team

View case study
Silong Hamuros Android dashboard showing the device-not-connected message, unavailable cover status, and sample weight awaiting readings
Android monitoring dashboard · Hardware disconnected; readings awaiting a connected device

DRRM Alert Automation

Workflow automation · Public safety

An n8n workflow using PAGASA advisories to prepare DRRM alerts. The workflow runs, while a suitable announcement delivery integration remains unresolved.

Workflow developer · AI-assisted development

Working workflow prototype · Delivery pending

What I learned

I learned to investigate whether a platform supports the intended communication workflow before treating it as the delivery channel.

More about this project

Intended for student-organization announcements, originally through Messenger. Workflow execution is working; platform selection and live delivery remain pending.

July–August 2026

View case study
Wide n8n DRRM workflow diagram with connected nodes, conditional branches, and multiple processing paths
n8n workflow prototype · Delivery integration pending

Curiosity first.
Then, the work.

Don Mclaire

I'm Don Mclaire C. Gonzales, a third-year BS Information Technology student at Batangas State University – The National Engineering University, CICS Alangilan.

I enjoy noticing what could work better, understanding the people affected, and exploring what a practical solution might look like. My projects span educational platforms, campus safety, infrastructure transparency, and agricultural automation.

Where I'm headed

Most of my project experience is in web and application development. Cybersecurity is the career direction I want to pursue. Building applications gives me a practical starting point for understanding how systems work and where they can fail; my HyperLink challenge work and cybersecurity coursework are part of that learning journey.

How I build

I use AI-assisted programming as part of my development process. BasCal, SafeTap, PITS, and the HyperLink challenges were solo development efforts with AI assistance. Silong Hamuros is a team project where I serve as Project Manager, Main Project Feature Lead, and Application Feature Lead. I conceptualized most of the planned prototype’s features and help develop the application workflows.

Why I build

I don't need to have every answer before I start. I need a worthwhile problem, the willingness to learn, and the patience to keep refining an idea until it becomes something tangible.

Tools behind the ideas.

Technologies used in my projects,
and areas I'm exploring.

Web & applications

JavaScript · HTML · CSS · Node.js · Express · Socket.IO · Flutter · Dart

Data & desktop

MySQL · SQLite · Python · Kivy · KivyMD

AI & infrastructure

Perplexity API · GitHub · Linux · CTFd · n8n · ngrok · Tailscale

Areas of exploration

IoT · Networking · Cybersecurity · Workflow automation · Project leadership

Responsibility beyond code.

Leading projects and contributing
to student communities.

CTF Head & Challenge Developer

HyperLink VI · Department organization event

September 2026 preparation · Event approval pending

Project Manager & Main Project Feature Lead

Silong Hamuros · Application Feature Lead · Six-member team

October 2026–present

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Lead

IINTESS

August 2026–present

DRRM Officer

ASTRA Developers

August 2026–present

Partnerships and Resource Development Committee Member

CICS Student Council (CICS-SC)

August 2026–present

Work Immersion

NYK Bauan · Best in Work Immersion Award

Started April 15, 2024

Public Relations Committee Member

Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG)

2023–2024

Grade 12 Java A Class President

Bauan Technical Integrated High School

2023–2024

Rondalla Lead & Bandurria Player

Selected as lead for my proficiency in playing the bandurria.

2013–2014

Learning, always.

Batangas State University – The National Engineering University

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
CICS · Alangilan Campus

2024–2028 · Expected graduation: 2028

Bauan Technical Integrated High School

Senior High School

2022–2024

Training & professional development

Google Cybersecurity Certificate — Coursework

Coursework completed · Certificate not obtained

SAGIP — DRRM Training

Training for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management personnel, provided by BFP, PNP, and Red Cross.

Planned learning

Appkademiya certification goals · All not yet started

COAP — Certified Offensive API Pentester
API security and offensive testing. My goal is to strengthen how I assess the security of application APIs.
NTO-101 — NetOps Certified Engineer
Network operations, with automation and API-driven management. My goal is to deepen my understanding of operating and securing networks.
CWPT — Certified Web Penetration Tester
Web application penetration testing. My goal is to improve how I identify and assess security weaknesses in web applications.
LXO-101 — LinuxOps Certified Engineer
Linux operations and system administration. My goal is to build a stronger foundation for managing and troubleshooting Linux systems.
About Appkademiya

Have something
worth building?

Let's talk about internships, job opportunities, freelance projects, or an idea you're working on.

gdonmclaire15@gmail.com

Other ways to email

gonzalesdm@proton.me24-01367@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

Find me online

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