Haullo App Maps King-Size Candy and Allergy-Safe Treats for Halloween

Trick-or-treaters in the Greater Boston area can now view a digital map of local houses before heading out this Saturday. The Haullo application, which launched in September, allows users to identify which neighbors are distributing king-size candy and which locations offer allergy-safe options.

The project originated in a Needham middle school math classroom. Brynn Berkowitz, who is eleven, needed to create a graph of her candy collection for an assignment. Her father, Dave Berkowitz, who works in health care technology, suggested they automate the counting process using software.

"I told my dad, 'Dad, I have to graph out my candy,' and he was like, 'Well, do you want to make an app about it?' And I was like, 'Sure. I just sat on his lap, and we started this,'" Brynn said.

Dave Berkowitz used artificial intelligence coding tools to build the backend. His daughter provided the design direction, requesting a style that was "preppy, slay, boujee and trendy." The name Haullo refers to the collection of sweets kids gather during the holiday.

The initial version required users to photograph their candy so the app could count and sort the items. Community feedback led the developers to add interactive mapping features. Users can now tag their own houses to indicate the type of candy they provide, or mark specific locations known for full-size treats.

The platform includes a locator for houses with the best decorations and a feature designed to help parents find treats suitable for children with allergies. It also contains a "candy bandit detector," a tool Brynn created because her brother frequently took sweets from her stash.

"We made this because my brother, he always takes my candy," Brynn said.

The application is available for free download in major app stores. Its utility depends on active participation from residents who tag their properties and report the quality of the candy they distribute.