README.md

Directory

Overview

A React JS CRUD application that populates a table with data that can be sorted in ascending/descending order for various categories, as well as via a search input. Users can add, update, and delete items added to the directory.

Technologies Used

• React JS
• Node
• Express
• Randomuser.me for populating the table with random user data
• Axios for fetching API data
• Material UI for icons and UI elements
• Jest for testing
• Prettier for formatting the project's code

Approach

I started off using create-react-app to build out the framework for the CRUD functionality, before implementing filters and more customization. I decided to use a table to display the directory data, since it was easier and more intuitive for users to have column sorting for different categories. I decided to focus on using React hooks instead of Redux for managing state.

After adding pagination, search filtering, column sorting, and modals for editing, I added tests once the basic structure was in placed and worked on improving the application's UI.

Next, I worked on setting up Node/Express for the backend for serving the API.

Installation

To run locally:

• git clone this repo and cd into the directory folder
• npm i to install dependencies
• create a .env within the project's root directory
• npm run dev to run the frontend and backend locally

To run prettier on the project after making changes, use npm run format

Next Steps

• Storing data to a database and image handling: since this isn't hooked up to a database or custom API (and is using mock data), users aren't able to upload images. Currently the application adds a default image whenever a user adds a new item.
• Properly setup post requests that connect passing data from the frontend to backend.
• More specific tests: the current tests check to make sure major components are rendering properly, but I would want to implement more specific tests for the application's functionality.
• Add a loader for when the data is being fetched.
• Instead of using modals for editing users, use inline editing.
• Add active classes for the pagination.
• Have a better design implemented and a different way to manage styles - perhaps with styled components; also add in UI-related animations for sorting and removing items.
• Right now the header only consists of the name of the application. For an application in production, I would add navigation and routing.
• Have a confirmation message when the user deletes an item from the table.