Manual Timetabling alternative
Smoov vs Manual Timetabling
Building your timetable in a spreadsheet or by trial-and-error on the university portal takes hours. Smoov does it in seconds - and explains every tradeoff.
| Category | Smoov | Manual Timetabling |
|---|---|---|
| Time to complete | Add your subjects and constraints once, then generate ranked schedule options in under a second. Full timetable ready in minutes. | Checking each class combination by hand, verifying no conflicts, and comparing options across browser tabs typically takes 1-3 hours per semester. |
| Conflict detection | Backtracking solver with forward checking eliminates every conflicting combination before presenting options. You only see valid, clash-free timetables. | Conflicts are discovered after the fact - usually when you try to enroll and the system rejects a combination, requiring you to start over. |
| Tradeoff explanations | Each schedule option comes with a plain-language tradeoff summary - showing which preferences are met and what you give up compared to other options. | No explanations. You assess each combination yourself, relying on memory of what you looked at earlier. |
| Work and life constraints | Block work shifts, recurring appointments, or any fixed commitment as a hard constraint. The optimiser guarantees these are never scheduled over. | You mentally track your work shifts while checking each combination. Easy to miss a conflict, especially across many subjects. |
| Multiple schedule options | Generates 2-4 ranked schedules using Maximum Marginal Relevance diversity selection - each option is meaningfully different, not just minor variations. | You typically build one schedule and stop, or compare 2-3 options if you have the patience. Systematic exploration of all combinations is not feasible by hand. |
| Group coordination | SmoovSync lets you and your friends find schedule combinations that maximize shared free time, shared campus days, or shared days off. | Group coordination requires sending screenshots or manually comparing schedules over chat. Very time-consuming with more than 2 people. |
Why students choose Smoov
- No tab-switching - all your subjects and constraints live in one place
- Solver eliminates invalid combinations automatically so you never waste time on a schedule that cannot work
- Tradeoff explanations help you make an informed choice instead of guessing
- Work shift protection means you never accidentally schedule a class over a shift
- Compare 2-4 meaningfully different options side by side in seconds
- Export directly to Google Calendar or ICS - no re-entering your schedule
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a timetable with Smoov?
Most students finish in under 5 minutes. Add your subjects (or import from Allocate+), set your preferences, and the solver generates ranked options in under a second. Compare that to 1-3 hours of manual tab-switching.
Can Smoov handle complex timetables?
Yes. The solver uses backtracking with forward checking and MRV heuristics to explore hundreds of combinations efficiently. It handles multi-campus classes, alternating-week lectures, and up to 6 subjects with full constraint satisfaction.
What if I want to keep a specific class option?
Premium users can anchor (lock) a specific class option in place, and Smoov will re-solve around it. This is useful when you have a preferred tutorial group or a lab that fits perfectly with your work schedule.