I want to build something useful that shows off my frontend skills without spending most of the project on a backend. What would be a good idea for a short development cycle?
What React or Next.js project could I build for interviews besides a todo app?
Answers
Pick a small problem someone actually has, then make a tool around it. A food and macro tracker is one example: enter meals, see totals against a target, and save everything in local storage.
That gives you room to work on forms, validation, useful feedback, and a clear interface without needing a server. If you can get someone to try it, their feedback can help you decide what to polish.
Reply to this answer
Build a visual JSON or Markdown editor. The interesting part isn't just displaying text. Try an interactive editing interface with undo and redo, and think through how the history should behave when users make several changes in a row.
Keep the first version small. A focused editor with reliable state handling gives you something concrete to discuss in an interview.
Reply to this answer
A local CSV or log analyzer could be a nice frontend challenge. Let users drop in a file, parse it in the browser, and show a dashboard that helps them find patterns. Start with modest files, then see how the interface behaves with larger ones.
Reply to this answer
If the idea needs accounts or shared data, you don't have to build every backend piece yourself. Supabase or Firebase can handle authentication and storage while you concentrate on the React interface. Pick a narrow use case so setup doesn't eat the whole project.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
Related Discussions