MERN Stack Project: Build an AI-Powered Interview Prep App (React, Node.js, MongoDB)

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will build an AI-powered Interview Preparation App using the MERN stack, which includes MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js. This app will help users generate personalized interview questions and answers based on their role and experience. Key features include user authentication, dynamic AI explanations, and a responsive UI built with Tailwind CSS.

Step 1: Set Up Your React App

• Create a new React application using Create React App:

  npx create-react-app interview-prep-app
  

• Navigate to the project directory:

  cd interview-prep-app
  

Step 2: Install Tailwind CSS

• Install Tailwind CSS by following the official installation guide:

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

• Configure Tailwind by adding the following paths to the content array in tailwind.config.js:

  module.exports = {
    content: [
      "./src/**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}",
    ],
    theme: {
      extend: {},
    },
    plugins: [],
  }
  

• Add the Tailwind directives to your index.css:

  @tailwind base;
  @tailwind components;
  @tailwind utilities;
  

Step 3: Create Project Structure

• Organize your project by creating the following folders:
  • components
  • pages
  • context
  • api

Step 4: Install Required Libraries

• Install necessary libraries such as Axios for API calls and React Router for routing:

  npm install axios react-router-dom
  

Step 5: Define App Routes

• Set up basic routing in your App.js using React Router:

  import { BrowserRouter as Router, Route, Switch } from 'react-router-dom';
  
  function App() {
    return (
      <Router>
        <Switch>
          <Route path="/" exact component={LandingPage} />
          <Route path="/login" component={LoginPage} />
          <Route path="/signup" component={SignUpPage} />
          <Route path="/dashboard" component={DashboardPage} />
        </Switch>
      </Router>
    );
  }
  

Step 6: Create Landing Page UI

• Design the landing page with Tailwind CSS for a modern look. Include key features of the app to attract users.

Step 7: Build User Authentication

• Create Login and Sign-Up forms:
  • Design the UI for the login and sign-up popups.
  • Set up state management for form inputs.
• Implement JWT-based authentication for secure logins.

Step 8: Set Up Backend with Node.js

• Initialize a new Node.js project:

  mkdir backend
  cd backend
  npm init -y
  

• Install Express and other necessary packages:

  npm install express mongoose cors dotenv jsonwebtoken bcrypt
  

Step 9: Define MongoDB Schemas

• Create schemas for users, questions, and sessions:

  const mongoose = require('mongoose');
  
  const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ /* user fields */ });
  const QuestionSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ /* question fields */ });
  const SessionSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ /* session fields */ });
  
  module.exports = { UserSchema, QuestionSchema, SessionSchema };
  

Step 10: Create Authentication APIs

• Set up routes for user login, sign-up, and profile retrieval:

  app.post('/api/auth/login', (req, res) => { /* login logic */ });
  app.post('/api/auth/signup', (req, res) => { /* signup logic */ });
  

Step 11: Create Session and Question APIs

• Define routes for managing interview sessions and questions:

  app.post('/api/sessions', (req, res) => { /* create session logic */ });
  app.post('/api/questions', (req, res) => { /* add question logic */ });
  

Step 12: Integrate AI Features

• Use the Gemini API to generate interview questions and explanations:

  app.post('/api/ai/generate', (req, res) => {
    // Call Gemini API to generate questions and explanations
  });
  

Step 13: Build Dashboard and Interview Prep Pages

• Create a dashboard to display user sessions and allow management:
  • Fetch all sessions and display them in a user-friendly manner.
• Create an Interview Prep page to view questions and answers:
  • Implement features to pin important questions and load more entries.

Conclusion

You have now built a fully functional AI-powered Interview Preparation App using the MERN stack. This application features user authentication, AI-generated content, and a sleek user interface. Consider exploring additional features like analytics on user performance or expanding the AI capabilities for better customization. Happy coding!