Case Study
leoblocks
A creative learning platform I built as sole developer, shipped on Google Workspace Marketplace
Leoblocks is a creative learning platform where students boost creativity through hundreds of interactive challenges powered by Sumo Apps' creative tools embedded via iframes. As the sole developer, I built the entire platform from scratch — including an AI challenge builder, real-time student collaboration with WebSockets, Google Classroom Add-on integration, Google App Licensing, and a gamified learning engine with points, badges, and leaderboards. The platform offers 9 creative apps and is GDPR, FERPA, COPPA, and SOPIPA compliant.
Involvement
My role
Sole Developer — built the entire platform from scratch, end to end
Architecture design, technical decision-making, and infrastructure
AI challenge builder for generating challenges and learning material
Real-time collaboration engine using WebSockets
Cross-origin iframe communication with Sumo Apps via JS postMessage API
Google Classroom Add-on development and certification
Google App Licensing integration for Workspace Marketplace
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 SSO with role-based access control
At the Google Partner Forum — London
Deliverables
What I shipped
9 creative apps integrated via iframes (Sumo's Paint, Tunes, 3D, Code, Audio, Photo, Pixel, Video + AI tool)
Cross-origin iframe communication using JS postMessage API to embed Sumo Apps
Real-time collaboration between students using WebSockets
AI challenge builder to generate challenges and learning material
Google Classroom Add-on — teachers attach Leoblocks content directly in Classroom
Google App Licensing integration for Workspace Marketplace
Gamified learning engine with points, badges, and leaderboards
Hundreds of interactive creative challenges
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 SSO with role-based access (student, teacher, co-teacher, admin)
AI assistants/tutors embedded inside each app — students could ask questions and receive tailored guidance about how to use the creative tools
GDPR, FERPA, COPPA, and SOPIPA compliance
Deep dive
Hard problems solved
Problem
Google Classroom Add-ons had minimal documentation and no established patterns for EdTech startups at the time.
Decision
Built a custom integration layer with OAuth2 flows, assignment syncing, and grade passback. Iterated directly with Google's developer relations team.
Result
Successfully certified as a Google Classroom Add-on and listed on Google Workspace Marketplace. Invited to the Google Partner Forum in London.
Problem
Embedding Sumo's creative apps in iframes required secure cross-origin communication — the parent app and each iframe ran on different domains with different security policies.
Decision
Implemented a structured messaging protocol using the JS postMessage API with origin validation, message typing, and bidirectional event handling between the Leoblocks shell and each embedded Sumo app.
Result
Seamless integration of 9 creative apps within the platform, with real-time state sync between the challenge engine and each creative tool.
Problem
Students needed to collaborate in real time during classroom sessions, with teachers monitoring progress live.
Decision
Built a WebSocket-based real-time collaboration layer with optimistic UI updates, presence indicators, and a queue-based architecture for grading and progress tracking.
Result
Stable real-time performance during classroom sessions with 30+ concurrent students per class.
Problem
Teachers needed to create creative challenges at scale without writing code or designing from scratch.
Decision
Built an AI challenge builder that generates challenges and learning material using AI, with teacher review and customisation before publishing.
Result
Teachers could produce and assign creative challenges significantly faster, scaling the content library to hundreds of interactive challenges.
The result
Key outcomes
9
Creative apps integrated in the platform
1
Sole developer — everything built by me
Workspace Marketplace + Classroom Add-on
London
Invited to Google Partner Forum
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