In the rapidly evolving world of software development, traditional coding challenge platforms often focus on algorithmic puzzles that don't translate directly to real-world programming skills. **You Build It** addresses this gap by providing an interactive platform where developers learn by building actual applications and tools they'll use in their careers. This Next.js-powered platform represents a comprehensive approach to developer education, combining modern web technologies with carefully crafted learning experiences. ## Why I Built You Build It The inspiration for You Build It came from recognizing a fundamental disconnect in developer education. While platforms like LeetCode and HackerRank excel at algorithmic thinking, they often leave developers unprepared for the practical aspects of software engineering. I wanted to create a platform that would: - **Bridge Theory and Practice**: Connect algorithmic concepts to real-world application development - **Build Actual Skills**: Help developers create tools and systems they'll encounter in professional environments - **Provide Rich Learning Experiences**: Offer interactive, well-documented challenges with comprehensive explanations - **Support Progressive Learning**: Structure challenges from beginner-friendly to advanced levels - **Create Lasting Value**: Enable developers to build a portfolio of practical projects The platform serves as both an educational tool and a showcase of modern web development practices, demonstrating how thoughtful UX design can make complex technical concepts accessible and engaging. ## Platform Architecture You Build It follows a content-driven architecture designed for performance, maintainability, and exceptional user experience: ```plantuml @startuml !theme plain skinparam componentStyle rectangle package "Frontend Application" { [Next.js App Router] as app [React Components] as components [Framer Motion] as animations [Tailwind CSS] as styles } package "Content System" { [MDX Challenge Files] as mdx [Gray Matter] as frontmatter [Challenge API] as api [Dynamic Routing] as routing } package "UI Components" { [Radix UI Primitives] as radix [Custom Components] as custom [Syntax Highlighter] as syntax [Interactive Elements] as interactive } package "Infrastructure" { [Vercel Hosting] as vercel [GitHub Integration] as github [Commit Tracking] as commits [Environment Config] as env } ' Application flow app --> components app --> routing routing --> api api --> mdx mdx --> frontmatter ' UI composition components --> radix components --> custom components --> animations components --> styles ' Content rendering mdx --> syntax mdx --> interactive ' Deployment app --> vercel vercel --> github vercel --> commits vercel --> env @enduml ``` ### Architecture Components **Frontend Application:** - **Next.js App Router**: Modern routing with server-side rendering and static generation - **React Components**: Reusable, accessible component architecture - **Framer Motion**: Smooth animations and micro-interactions - **Tailwind CSS**: Utility-first styling with responsive design **Content System:** - **MDX Challenge Files**: Rich content with embedded React components - **Gray Matter**: Front matter parsing for challenge metadata - **Challenge API**: Dynamic challenge loading and filtering - **Dynamic Routing**: SEO-friendly URLs with automatic sitemap generation **UI Components:** - **Radix UI Primitives**: Headless, accessible UI foundations - **Custom Components**: Platform-specific interface elements - **Syntax Highlighter**: Code syntax highlighting with multiple themes - **Interactive Elements**: Engaging challenge previews and progress tracking ## Core Features & Implementation ### Dynamic Challenge System The heart of You Build It is its sophisticated challenge management system that transforms static MDX files into interactive learning experiences: ```javascript path=null start=null // Challenge loading and processing export async function getChallenges(): Promise { const challengeFiles = await fs.readdir(challengesDirectory); const challenges = await Promise.all( challengeFiles .filter(file => file.endsWith('.mdx')) .map(async (file) => { const filePath = path.join(challengesDirectory, file); const fileContent = await fs.readFile(filePath, 'utf8'); const { data: frontmatter, content } = matter(fileContent); const slug = file.replace('.mdx', ''); return { slug, title: frontmatter.title, summary: frontmatter.summary, difficulty: frontmatter.difficulty, category: frontmatter.category, skills: frontmatter.skills || [], estimatedTime: frontmatter.estimatedTime, content }; }) ); return challenges.sort((a, b) => difficultyOrder[a.difficulty] - difficultyOrder[b.difficulty] ); } ``` ### Advanced Filtering & Search The platform includes sophisticated filtering capabilities that help developers find challenges matching their skill level and interests: ```typescript path=null start=null interface ChallengeFilters { difficulty: string[]; category: string[]; skills: string[]; searchTerm: string; } const useFilteredChallenges = ( challenges: Challenge[], filters: ChallengeFilters ) => { return useMemo(() => { return challenges.filter((challenge) => { // Difficulty filtering if ( filters.difficulty.length > 0 && !filters.difficulty.includes(challenge.difficulty) ) { return false; } // Category filtering if ( filters.category.length > 0 && !filters.category.includes(challenge.category) ) { return false; } // Skills filtering if ( filters.skills.length > 0 && !filters.skills.some((skill) => challenge.skills.includes(skill)) ) { return false; } // Search term filtering if (filters.searchTerm) { const term = filters.searchTerm.toLowerCase(); return ( challenge.title.toLowerCase().includes(term) || challenge.summary.toLowerCase().includes(term) || challenge.skills.some((skill) => skill.toLowerCase().includes(term)) ); } return true; }); }, [challenges, filters]); }; ``` ## Challenge Categories & Learning Paths You Build It organizes challenges into carefully structured categories that mirror real-world software development domains: ### Systems Programming Build low-level tools and understand system internals: - **Docker Container Runtime**: Learn containerization and Linux namespaces - **Database System**: Implement B-trees, transactions, and SQL parsing - **Version Control System**: Build Git-like functionality with content addressing ### Command Line Tools Master text processing and system utilities: - **diff Tool**: Implement Myers' algorithm for file comparison - **grep Clone**: Build pattern matching with regular expressions - **cut Utility**: Create field and character extraction tools ### Web Development Build modern web applications and servers: - **HTTP Server**: Understand the request-response cycle and concurrency - **Web Framework**: Create routing, middleware, and templating systems - **API Gateway**: Build request routing and authentication systems ### Language Implementation Dive deep into programming language theory: - **Regular Expression Engine**: Implement NFA/DFA conversion and matching - **JSON Parser**: Build recursive descent parsers and AST generation - **Compiler Frontend**: Create lexical analysis and syntax parsing ## Technical Implementation Deep Dive ### Performance Optimization The platform implements several optimization strategies to ensure fast loading and smooth interactions: ```javascript path=null start=null // Static generation for challenge pages export async function generateStaticParams() { const challenges = await getChallenges(); return challenges.map((challenge) => ({ challenge: challenge.slug, })); } // Incremental Static Regeneration for dynamic content export const revalidate = 3600; // Revalidate every hour // Component-level optimizations const ChallengePreview = memo(({ challenge }) => { const [imageLoaded, setImageLoaded] = useState(false); return (

setImageLoaded(true)} priority={challenge.featured} /> {!imageLoaded && }

); }); ``` ### Accessibility Features The platform prioritizes accessibility with semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, and keyboard navigation: ```javascript path=null start=null const FilterButton = ({ filter, isActive, onToggle }) => { return ( ); }; ``` ### Progressive Enhancement The platform works excellently with JavaScript disabled while enhancing the experience when available: ```javascript path=null start=null // Server-side rendering for core content export default function ChallengePage({ challenge }) { return (

{/* Core content always renders server-side */} {/* Enhanced features load progressively */}

); } const ClientOnly = ({ children }) => { const [hasMounted, setHasMounted] = useState(false); useEffect(() => { setHasMounted(true); }, []); if (!hasMounted) return null; return children; }; ``` ## Developer Experience & Tooling ### Development Environment You Build It includes comprehensive developer tooling for maintainability and code quality: ```json path=null start=null { "scripts": { "dev": "next dev", "build": "next build", "start": "next start", "lint": "eslint .", "lint:fix": "eslint --fix .", "format": "prettier --write .", "format:check": "prettier --check .", "prepare": "husky" }, "lint-staged": { "!(content/challenges/**)*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}": [ "eslint --fix", "prettier --write" ], "!(content/challenges/**)*.{json,md,css,scss}": ["prettier --write"] } } ``` ### Type Safety The entire codebase leverages TypeScript for type safety and developer productivity: ```typescript path=null start=null interface Challenge { slug: string; title: string; summary: string; longSummary?: string; difficulty: "Beginner" | "Intermediate" | "Advanced"; category: string; skills: string[]; estimatedTime: string; content: string; featured?: boolean; prerequisites?: string[]; } interface ChallengeFilters { difficulty: Challenge["difficulty"][]; category: string[]; skills: string[]; searchTerm: string; } type ChallengeState = { challenges: Challenge[]; filteredChallenges: Challenge[]; filters: ChallengeFilters; loading: boolean; error: string | null; }; ``` ## Deployment & Infrastructure ### Vercel Integration The platform leverages Vercel's edge network for optimal performance globally: ```javascript path=null start=null // next.config.js /** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */ const nextConfig = { experimental: { appDir: true, }, images: { domains: ["images.unsplash.com", "github.com"], formats: ["image/avif", "image/webp"], }, async headers() { return [ { source: "/(.*)", headers: [ { key: "X-Frame-Options", value: "DENY", }, { key: "X-Content-Type-Options", value: "nosniff", }, { key: "Referrer-Policy", value: "strict-origin-when-cross-origin", }, ], }, ]; }, }; module.exports = nextConfig; ``` ### Monitoring & Analytics The platform includes comprehensive monitoring for performance optimization: ```javascript path=null start=null // Web Vitals tracking export function reportWebVitals(metric) { switch (metric.name) { case "CLS": case "FID": case "FCP": case "LCP": case "TTFB": // Send to analytics service gtag("event", metric.name, { value: Math.round(metric.value), event_label: metric.id, non_interaction: true, }); break; default: break; } } ``` ## Learning Outcomes & Impact ### Skills Development You Build It challenges are designed to develop practical skills that transfer directly to professional software development: **Systems Understanding:** - Low-level system programming concepts - Operating system internals and APIs - Memory management and resource optimization - Concurrency and parallel processing **Software Engineering:** - API design and implementation patterns - Database design and query optimization - Testing strategies and quality assurance - Performance monitoring and optimization **Modern Web Development:** - Server-side rendering and static generation - Progressive web application principles - Accessibility and inclusive design - Performance optimization techniques ### Career Advancement The platform bridges the gap between academic computer science and industry requirements: - **Portfolio Building**: Each completed challenge becomes a portfolio project - **Interview Preparation**: Practice explaining complex systems and architectures - **Technology Exploration**: Safely experiment with new technologies and patterns - **Open Source Contribution**: Learn collaborative development practices ## Future Enhancements The roadmap for You Build It includes several exciting features: ### Interactive Development Environment - **In-browser Coding**: Web-based IDE for immediate challenge attempts - **Real-time Testing**: Automated test suites for challenge validation - **Collaborative Features**: Pair programming and code reviews ### Enhanced Learning Analytics - **Progress Tracking**: Detailed analytics on learning progression - **Skill Assessment**: Automated evaluation of completed challenges - **Personalized Recommendations**: AI-powered learning path suggestions ### Community Features - **Solution Sharing**: Community gallery of challenge solutions - **Peer Reviews**: Code review system for learning improvement - **Discussion Forums**: Topic-based technical discussions ## Conclusion You Build It represents a paradigm shift in developer education, moving from abstract algorithmic puzzles to practical, hands-on learning experiences. The platform successfully combines modern web technologies with thoughtful educational design to create an engaging, effective learning environment. Key accomplishments include: - **Comprehensive Content System**: 15+ carefully crafted challenges covering diverse programming domains - **Modern Architecture**: Built with Next.js, TypeScript, and best practices for performance and maintainability - **Excellent User Experience**: Responsive design with smooth animations and intuitive navigation - **Developer-Focused**: Practical projects that build real-world skills and portfolio pieces - **Open Source Community**: Encouraging collaboration and continuous improvement Whether you're a beginner looking to build your first command-line tool or an experienced developer wanting to understand how databases work internally, You Build It provides structured, engaging pathways to deepen your understanding of software engineering principles. The project showcases how educational technology can be both technically sophisticated and pedagogically sound, creating learning experiences that developers actually enjoy while building skills they'll use throughout their careers.

Projects

Pinned Projects

⚙️ ConfigSync

⚓ Argo Helm Charts: Comprehensive Wrapper Suite for GitOps Excellence

🛠️ You Build It: Interactive Coding Challenges Platform

☁️ Cloud Tools

Dec 10, 2025

Sep 19, 2025

Sep 14, 2025

Aug 30, 2025

Aug 24, 2025

Jun 24, 2025

Open SourceYou can find all of my projects on my GitHub.

Open Source
You can find all of my projects on my GitHub.