Build & Deploy Full Stack AI Mock Interview App with Next.js | React, Drizzle ORM, Gemini AI, Clerk

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of building and deploying a Full Stack AI Mock Interview App using Next.js, React, Drizzle ORM, Gemini AI, and Clerk. This project is an excellent opportunity for developers to enhance their skills by creating a real-world application that simulates mock interviews. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a fully functional app that leverages AI to generate interview questions and record responses.

Step 1: Set Up Next.js React App

1. Create a New Next.js App:

   • Open your terminal and run the following command to create a new Next.js application:

     npx create-next-app@latest my-ai-mock-interview-app
     

   • Navigate into your project directory:

     cd my-ai-mock-interview-app
     

2. Run the Application:

   • Start your development server with:

     npm run dev
     

   • Open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000 to see your app running.

Step 2: Implement Authentication with Clerk

1. Set Up Clerk:

   • Sign up on Clerk and create a new application.
   • Follow the instructions to integrate Clerk into your Next.js app.

2. Add Authentication:

   • Install the Clerk SDK:

     npm install @clerk/nextjs
     

   • Implement authentication routes as described in the Clerk documentation.

Step 3: Design the User Interface with Tailwind CSS

1. Install Tailwind CSS:

   • Add Tailwind CSS to your project:

     npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
     npx tailwindcss init -p
     

   • Update your tailwind.config.js and add the paths to your template files.

2. Style Your Components:

   • Use Tailwind CSS classes to style your application components for a modern look.

Step 4: Set Up PostgreSQL and Drizzle ORM

1. Install PostgreSQL:

   • Ensure that you have PostgreSQL installed and running on your machine.

2. Set Up Drizzle ORM:

   • Install Drizzle ORM:

     npm install drizzle-orm pg
     

   • Configure Drizzle ORM to connect to your PostgreSQL database.

Step 5: Write Drizzle ORM Queries

• Create functions to interact with your database using Drizzle ORM, such as fetching user data and saving interview responses.

Step 6: Generate AI Questions with Gemini API

1. Set Up Google Gemini API:

   • Obtain an API key from Google Gemini and set it up in your project.

2. Create AI Question Generation Logic:

   • Write a function to call the Gemini API and generate mock interview questions based on user input.

Step 7: Implement User Interaction Features

1. Record User Answers:

   • Use the Web API and microphone access to allow users to record their answers.
   • Convert speech to text using libraries such as SpeechRecognition API.

2. Save User Responses:

   • Store the recorded answers in your PostgreSQL database using Drizzle ORM.

Step 8: Create the Interview Workflow

1. Build the Interview Start Page:

   • Design a landing page to start the interview process.

2. Display Questions:

   • Create a component to show generated interview questions one at a time.

3. Provide Feedback:

   • Create a feedback mechanism that analyzes user responses and gives constructive criticism.

Step 9: Develop the Dashboard

1. Show Interview List:

   • Create a dashboard page to display past interviews and their outcomes.

2. Add Pricing and Payment Integration:

   • Integrate payment processing using your preferred payment gateway. Refer to the payment integration video for guidance.

Step 10: Deploy Your Application

1. Deploy to Vercel:
   • Push your code to a Git repository.
   • Go to Vercel and import your repository.
   • Follow the prompts to deploy your application.

Conclusion

You have successfully built and deployed a Full Stack AI Mock Interview App using Next.js, React, Drizzle ORM, Gemini AI, and Clerk. This project not only enhances your development skills but also provides a valuable tool for users preparing for interviews. As a next step, consider adding additional features like user analytics or integrating more advanced AI functionalities. Happy coding!