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KwaCart

KwaCart — Milestone Project 3 · Level 5 Diploma in Web Software Engineering

A Django-based facilitation platform built around Liberating Structures — 23 participatory methods that help groups do their best thinking together. It gives facilitators a bank of ready-made tools that participants can complete individually or together in a live collaborative session. Responses are archived and exportable as Markdown and RTF documents.

Purpose

Organisations often struggle to create the conditions for honest, constructive dialogue. KwaCart provides a lightweight facilitation toolkit — grounded in Liberating Structures methodology — that any team can use to surface challenges, share hopes, and warm up to productive conversation. The platform removes the friction of paper-based activities by letting every participant log in, work through a structured prompt, and instantly see a combined result when the facilitator closes the session.

Tech Stack

Layer Technology
LanguagePython 3.12
FrameworkDjango 6.0.4
Database (dev)SQLite (db.sqlite3)
Static filesWhiteNoise 6.6
Production serverGunicorn 25.x
HostingReplit (development & production)

Key Features

Solo Tool Use

Any logged-in user can pick a tool from the catalog, draft at their own pace with autosave on every keystroke, and submit when ready. Submissions generate downloadable Markdown and RTF files.

Collaborative Sessions

A facilitator creates a session and shares a URL or QR code. Participants join, complete the form, and save responses. When the host closes the session, a combined export is generated for everyone to download.

Timer Widget

Server-synced countdown timer with Start / Pause / Reset controls, a phase progress bar, milestone announcements at 5 min, 2 min, 1 min, 30 s, and 10 s, and full screen-reader support.

Drawing Canvas

Tools that include a drawing canvas save freehand artwork as SHA-256 content-addressed PNG files. Keyboard and screen-reader accessibility supported throughout.

Archive & Exports

Every submission and session generates Markdown and RTF exports. The archive dashboard shows solo submissions, hosted sessions, and joined sessions — with download links throughout.

Security

Email-based authentication, CSRF protection, ALLOWED_HOSTS derived from environment variables, password validation at the model layer, and download access restricted to session hosts and participants.

Facilitation Tools

23 tools currently registered across two categories.

Low-Risk Warm-ups

I am and I like A quick energiser — go around the circle, share your name and something you love.

Facilitation

1-2-4-AllTurn any question into group insight — alone, then pairs, then fours, then everyone.
15% SolutionsWhat can you start doing right now, with the freedom and resources you already have?
25/10 Crowd SourcingSurface your group's boldest ideas in 30 minutes with cards and a countdown from 25.
Appreciative InterviewsUncover what's already working by sharing stories of peak success.
Conversation CaféCalm group dialogue on a hard question — a talking object and four structured rounds.
Discovery & Action DialogueSeven questions that surface hidden solutions already working in your group.
Drawing TogetherA silent, simultaneous visual exercise using five universal shapes.
Five Structural ElementsGet into pairs, share challenges and expectations, build new connections fast.
Helping HeuristicsPractise four ways of helping in 15 minutes and discover your default pattern.
Idea GenerationA minute of individual reflection, then share with the group.
Improv PrototypingAct out the problem, spot what works, and rebuild a better version on the spot.
Impromptu NetworkingMeet three people, share your challenge, walk away with fresh ideas.
Min SpecsStrip your rules down to the bone. What absolutely must stay?
Nine WhysAsk "why?" nine times and find out what actually drives you.
Shift & ShareDitch the long presentations. Rotate through rapid-fire innovation stations instead.
TRIZList everything that would guarantee failure — then stop doing those things.
Troika ConsultingThree people, three turns, back turned. Straight-talking peer advice in 30 minutes.
User Experience FishbowlInsiders share the unfiltered story. The room listens, then asks.
What, So What, Now What?Debrief any shared experience in three stages — facts first, then meaning, then action.
Wicked QuestionsName the contradictions your group is navigating — and make them visible.
Wise Crowds15 minutes of focused peer advice on a real challenge, with the client's back turned.
Wise Crowds (Large Group)Scale peer consultation to a full room — one client, primary team, satellite groups.

How a Collaborative Session Works

1
Host creates — clicks Start session on any tool card. A shareable URL and QR code are generated.
2
Participants join — open the shared URL, log in if needed, and see the tool form.
3
Everyone responds — fills in the form and saves. Responses are editable until the session closes.
4
Host closes — clicks Close session. All responses are locked and a combined Markdown + RTF export is generated.
5
Everyone downloads — the combined results page shows all contributions with download links for the host and all participants.

Built as Milestone Project 3 for the Level 5 Diploma in Web Software Engineering. Facilitation methodology draws on Liberating Structures — created by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless. See liberatingstructures.com.