Employee Skills Tracker - Optimisation Task

Overview

This project is an Employee Skills Tracker application designed to manage employees and their skills. It consists of:
1. Backend: A Java Spring Boot REST API using in-memory mock data.
2. Frontend: An Angular application utilising Angular Material for UI components.

The application was initially created by a Junior Engineer. Your task is to analyse and propose optimisations to the codebase to make it production-ready, scalable, and maintainable.

Task Description

Your goal is to assess the current implementation and propose improvements to ensure the project can:
- Scale effectively to handle millions of users.
- Follow industry best practices for maintainable and testable code.
- Meet the requirements for a production-ready application, including performance, security, and modularity.

Deliverables

1. Optimisation Proposal Document:
2. Identify key areas for improvement in both the backend and frontend.
3. Propose specific optimisations with justifications (e.g., performance, scalability, security).
4. Be prepared to discuss your recommendations during the interview.
5. Implementation Plan (Optional):
6. Provide a high-level plan for implementing your proposed changes.

Instructions

1. Analyse the Codebase:
2. Review both the backend and frontend code to identify issues or inefficiencies.
3. Focus on areas such as architecture, scalability, performance, and security.
4. Propose Optimisations:
5. Document your findings and recommendations in a concise, structured format.
6. Address backend and frontend improvements separately.
7. Prepare for Discussion:
8. Be ready to explain your proposals during the interview.
9. Highlight how your optimisations align with the requirements for a production-grade application.

Areas to Consider

While conducting your analysis, consider the following aspects of the application:
- Backend:
- Data persistence: Consider replacing in-memory data with a scalable database solution.
- API structure: Ensure RESTful design and compliance with best practices.
- Security: Evaluate for potential vulnerabilities (e.g., authentication, input validation).
- Performance: Optimise for low latency and high throughput.

• Frontend:
• Component structure: Ensure modularity and maintainability.
• UI/UX: Propose improvements for a more intuitive and responsive interface.
• Error handling: Ensure robust handling of API errors and user feedback.
• Testing: Identify gaps in test coverage and suggest improvements.

Notes

• The current application is a prototype and lacks several production-ready features.
• You are not required to implement the proposed changes, but your recommendations should demonstrate an understanding of scalability, clean architecture, and best practices.

Evaluation Criteria

• Analytical Skills: Ability to identify weaknesses and propose practical solutions.
• Clarity: Clearly document and explain your recommendations.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrate a solid understanding of software design, performance optimisation, and scalability.
• Communication: Effectively present your ideas during the discussion.

Setup Instructions

Prerequisites

• Java 17+ and Maven (for backend)
• Node.js 16 and Angular CLI (for frontend)

Backend Setup (Spring Boot)

1. Navigate to the backend folder:
   bash cd backend
2. Build and run the backend:
   bash mvn spring-boot:run
3. Verify that the backend runs on http://localhost:8080.

Frontend Setup (Angular)

1. Navigate to the frontend folder:
   bash cd frontend
2. Install dependencies:
   bash npm install
3. Start the development server:
   bash npm run start
4. Open the app in your browser at http://localhost:4200.