I had a job application that asked for a coding project, with a 7-day deadline. I built Puzzles - a set of cognitive tests that measure different things. The constraint forced me to write modular code fast, which turned out to be a more valuable exercise than the puzzles themselves.
Puzzles
- Analytical test - find hidden words in a letter grid
- Memory test - match pairs of cards
- Speed test - whack-a-mole under time pressure
What I learnt
- Writing modular code under deadline pressure - each puzzle had to be independent and composable
- Understanding requirements before writing a line - I spent day one just mapping out what each puzzle needed
- Creativity as an engineering skill - the puzzle mechanics needed to be fair, clear, and actually fun
Built with
- Next.js
- tailwindcss
- Firebase - database and authentication
- Deployed on Vercel